Kathmandu, Dec 14: Nepali Congress (NC) central member Dr Shekhar Koirala, who is the candidate for the party President in the Nepali Congress 14th General Convention, has expressed his confidence in winning the second round of the election.    

Speaking at a press meet organised after the election results of the first round of voting today, Koirala said he would be elected on the post.    

It may be noted that the vote for the party new President has begun again as no candidates secured 51 per cent of the total votes cast to be elected on the party Presidential post.    

During the first round of the election held on Monday, Prime Minister and incumbent President Deuba had secured 2,258 votes while his nearest rival Shekhar Koirala secured 1,702 votes. Likewise, Singh got 371 votes followed by 250 by Bimalendra Nidhi and 22 votes by Kalyan Gurung.

A total of five candidates were in the race for the party President post.    

A total of 4,679 voters out of 4,743 took part in the voting and 76 ballots were invalid.    

As per the party statute, a candidate must secure over 50 per cent of the total cast votes to win the Party President post and in the absence of any candidate to meet the requirement in the first round of the election, voting shall be conducted among the two highest competitors and the one getting more votes shall win the election.    

Three candidates Singh, Nidhi and Gurung have already expressed their support to Deuba in the re-election.