FNJ election taking place across the country today

The much-awaited elections to the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) are taking place across the country today to elect new leaderships in its all chapters, province committees and central committee. This time FNJ has adopted the first-ever direct voting system to elect its central committee leadership.

A total of 13,122 members are voting for new leadership in the central committee, province committees, district chapters, institutions (Pratishthan) and associates committees. Voting will take place from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm today. Vote count will initiate on Wednesday after voting is over.

According to Coordinator of FNJ Central Election Committee, Kapil Kafle, vote results of all levels would come on April 8 if there was no obstruction anywhere.

Voting is taking place in 97 booths, including in 77 district chapters. The voting of 42 Pratishthan chapters is taking place in different 19 booths while voting of an associate is to take place at the Dasharath Stadium.

Though new leadership has been elected unopposed in some chapters and Pratishthan, the declaration would be made on April 7 today. The election this time would elect more than 3,000 office-bearers and members consisting of over 33 percent women in the committees, Kafle informed. The FNJ has adopted a complete inclusive system in all its structures.

As many as 152 candidates have filed their candidacies for 49 posts in the central committee. Bipul Pokharel, Nirmala Sharma and Gajendra Budhathoki have registered their candidatures for central leadership.

FNJ holds its election every three years for picking news leadership in its all committees. All the members are directly voting for leadership in all the committees this time.

In the history of the FNJ, there is so far no repetition of leadership. In line with the federal context, FNJ has developed its province committees and councils. FNJ has 10 province committees and councils. It has 77 district chapters, 42 Pratishthan chapters, 11 associate members, nine foreign chapters, 10 province council, 10 province committee and central council and central committee.

FNJ is the umbrella organization of all Nepali journalists. Its main goal is to provide professional leadership by organizing working journalists at home and abroad, protect the welfare and rights of the working journalists and work for the development of the overall journalism sector. Established as an Association of Nepali Journalists some 65 years ago in16 Chaitra 2012, the FNJ has been continuously showing its strong presence at the forefront of the movement for freedom of expression, the press freedom and democracy. The Association was transformed into the Federation in 29 Jeth 2053 BS.