IPPAN elects new leadership under Mohan Kumar Dangi, Most positions filled unanimously

KATHMANDU: The Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN) has selected a new executive committee for the next three-year term, with veteran hydropower entrepreneur Mohan Kumar Dangi assuming the chairmanship and most positions filled through consensus.

According to IPPAN, agreement among members on key leadership positions resulted in the unanimous selection of all office-bearers and executive members except for the treasurer, which was decided through voting.

Under the association’s existing statute, Dangi was automatically elected as the new president. Prior to the leadership selection process, extensive internal discussions and negotiations helped forge consensus among competing candidates.

Uttam Bhlon Lama was unanimously elected Senior Vice President after rival candidate Balram Khatri withdrew his candidacy and extended support to Lama, paving the way for an uncontested appointment.

Consensus was also reached for the vice-presidential positions. Following the withdrawal of candidacies by Bharat Bahadur Khatri and Bharat Prasad Nepal, Uttar Kumar Shrestha, Susan Karmacharya, Him Prasad Pathak, Narendra Ballabh Pant, and Bikram Bista were elected unopposed as vice presidents.

Similarly, T.N. Acharya was unanimously elected General Secretary after rival candidate Prakash Chandra Dulal withdrew from the race. Kavita Pokharel was elected Deputy General Secretary unopposed.

For the secretary positions, Kuber Mani Nepal, Abhigya Malla, Suman Kumari Joshi, Isha Shrestha, and Vijay Mohan Bhattarai were elected, while Krishna Prasad Ghimire and Deepak Poudel were nominated to the post.

The only competitive election was held for the treasurer position, where Shankar Basyal and Mithun Poudel contested. During the voting process, Poudel reportedly left the polling venue before the completion of voting.

According to the final vote count, Basyal secured 267 votes to emerge victorious, while Poudel received 82 votes.

Executive committee members Jagat Bahadur Pokharel, Anup Acharya, Kadam KC, Barnan Lamichhane, Narayan Kandel, Milan Khadka, and Jagdish Shivakoti were also elected unanimously.

The consensus-based outcome followed the withdrawal of candidacies by Indira Pant, Somnath Kandel, and Baburam Thapa for executive member positions.

In the women’s member category, Jyoti Gaire, Pratima Gyawali, and Sangita Dhamala were elected unopposed after Srijana Khadka withdrew her candidacy despite four initial nominations.

Under the association’s proposed new statute, Somnath Kandel, Indira Pant, and Baburam Thapa have also been nominated to the executive committee.

IPPAN stated that contrary to external speculation, the organization did not experience any serious internal conflict during the leadership selection process. The association emphasized that the new executive committee was formed through democratic practice, dialogue, consensus-building, and mutual understanding among members.

The newly elected leadership is expected to steer Nepal’s private hydropower sector at a time when the country is accelerating investment in renewable energy, expanding electricity exports, and pursuing major transmission infrastructure projects to strengthen regional energy trade and energy security.