Sher Bahadur Deuba elected Nepali Congress president

Three-time Nepal prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has been elected the new president of Nepali Congress, the country’s largest democratic party, in a run-off poll, succeeding late premier Sushil Koirala.

Deuba, 69, was elected the Nepali Congress chief during the 13th National General Convention here last night. The post was vacant after the demise of 79-year-old Koirala last month. Deuba received 1,822 votes, while Ram Chandra Paudel, the acting president of the party, was restricted to 1,296 votes. A total of 3,140 votes were cast, while only 3,118 were considered valid, the report said.

“From today, there will be no factions in the party, my sole purpose is to make party united,” Deuba said.