With Maoist backing Ram Raja emerges as strong presidential hopeful

The Maoists are all set to propose Ram Raja Prasad Singh, a veteran pro-republic leader, as the presidential candidate.

"It's time we gave due recognition to Ram Raja Prasad Singh's contribution to the republican movement," Maoist leader Netra Bikram Chand said, "Our party has kept his name in the priority [as presidential candidate]."

Speaking at the Reporters Club Monday, Chanda said UML's Sahana Pradhan, communist leader Nara Bahadur Karmacharya and civil society figures Padma Ratna Tuladhar and Dr Devendra Raj Pandey could be proposed as 'alternative candidates' for the top post.

The Maoist leader also made it clear that his party would in no way accept Girija Prasad Koirala as president. He also accused the Nepali Congress of trying to establish parallel power centres by proposing Koirala for the president's post.