KATHMANDU:- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) to conduct its elections in the second week of March in accordance with its statute.

At a program organized at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday to discuss the NRNA elections, Foreign Minister Balananda Sharma directed that the association’s elections be held through hybrid (physical and online) means.

Minister Sharma said that although he wanted the election to be held physically, there is a legal provision to include Nepalis living abroad in the election process. “This is not a matter for discussion,” he said. “According to the law, arrangements should be made accordingly for those who can be physically present, and for those who cannot come to Kathmandu, online means are mandatory.”

Minister Sharma also expressed the government’s commitment to facilitate and support the 12th NRNA General Convention to make it a success. He said that not accepting the democratic process is a sign of one’s own failure.

Speaking at the event, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai clarified that the ministry would always take decisions based on laws and regulations, adding that repeated discussions were not necessary when there was already an agreement on which statute to follow to hold the election.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Secretary General Som Sapkota, Co-Treasurer Krishna Timilsena, as well as advisors Atul Koirala, Purna Bania from DRC America, and advisors Bhairav ​​Dhakal and Devendra Basnet from Australia.

Similarly, through virtual means, President Mahesh Shrestha, Vice Presidents Dr. Hemraj Sharma, Ramsharan Simkhada, former Presidents Rajendra Kumar Sharma and Binod Kunwar, former Vice Presidents Keshav Poudel, Gauri Raj Joshi, and Baburam Lama,  Vice Presidents Biswas Tigela, Ratan Kumar Jha, Bhavani Prasad Oli, Gangadhar Gautam and Indra Ban were present.

Chief Executive Officer Rajendra Kumar Raut, Assistant Director Mahesh Shrestha, Senior Officer Kunal Mishra, and Senior Communications and Foreign Employment Officer Indra Lakshmi Ghimire participated in the meeting from the Secretariat.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formed a high-level organizing committee under the coordination of Foreign Minister Balananda Sharma to prepare for the World Conference and General Convention of the Non-Resident Nepali Association to be held from March 14 to 16.

The World Conference of the Non-Resident Nepali Association, established in 2003, has been jointly organized by the Government of Nepal and the Association.