FNCCI power battle intensifies as senior vice president race enters final stretch

KATHMANDU: The election race for senior vice president and treasurer of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has intensified ahead of voting scheduled for Friday, Jestha 8 (May 22). Candidates are aggressively seeking support, engaging in strategic negotiations, and exploring possible alliances to secure crucial votes.

According to an FNCCI executive committee member, the election atmosphere has become highly competitive, with candidates reportedly offering accommodation at luxury hotels to court committee members and strengthen their influence.

“We executive committee members are enjoying the situation. Everyone is trying to pull us to their side. We are even getting offers to choose which five-star hotel to stay in. Right now, there are hotel stay offers; let’s see what other offers come at night,” the member told local media outlet Bikas News.

Five Aspirants for Senior Vice President, Three in Treasurer Race

The race for FNCCI senior vice president features five contenders: Hemraj Dhakal, Surakrishna Baidya, Ramchandra Sanghai, Bharat Raj Acharya, and Kishore Pradhan.

Meanwhile, the treasurer race currently includes Ambika Prasad Paudel, Bhakta Bahadur Hamal, and Manish Lal Pradhan.

Hotel-Based Strategy and Political Calculations

Election activities have reportedly expanded beyond formal campaigning, with candidates and their teams gathering at hotels and resorts to negotiate alliances and calculate vote equations.

According to FNCCI sources, the Baidya–Pradhan camp has been operating from Best Western Plus Kathmandu in Godavari, while the Dhakal–Hamal team is stationed at Holiday Inn Resort Kathmandu Budhanilkantha. Paudel’s group is said to be coordinating from Lemon Tree Premier Budhanilkantha Kathmandu.

The camp aligned with FNCCI President Anjan Shrestha is reportedly divided in the final phase of the election. Associate Vice President Prabal Jung Pandey is believed to be backing either Sanghai or Acharya for senior vice president while supporting Ambika Paudel for treasurer, complicating the internal balance of power.

Vote Arithmetic and Shifting Equations

Sources suggest candidates are also pursuing last-minute understandings and coalition-building efforts. A possible collaboration between Hemraj Dhakal and Bharat Acharya is being discussed within business circles.

One FNCCI member claimed Dhakal has already secured around nine votes from the commodity sector. Additional support is expected from the associate group, while approximately eight votes from district and municipal chambers are believed to be leaning toward him.

“Dhakal has around 20 clear votes. He still needs to bring over additional support,” the member said. “Prabal Jung Pandey has around 18 clear votes in the associate category. Sachin Dhakal is expected to vote for Hemraj in the senior vice president race but support Ambika in the treasurer election.”

Meanwhile, the Baidya–Pradhan alliance is considered relatively strong in the district and municipal chamber category and may also secure notable support from the commodity sector due to their links with the team of commodity vice president candidate Shiva Prasad Ghimire.

However, insiders caution against relying solely on previous electoral patterns.

“You cannot calculate this election only based on past victories. Shiva Ji was considered stronger than Naresh Ji in the commodity sector and was expected to win, but he lost. So nothing can be predicted with certainty right now,” one member said.

Pressure on Bharat Acharya to Step Aside?

Sources claim that senior vice president aspirant Bharat Acharya is facing pressure from both the Sanghai and Dhakal camps to withdraw from the race.

Acharya is considered close to former FNCCI President Chandra Prasad Dhakal. According to sources, Hemraj Dhakal’s camp has been using Chandra Dhakal as an intermediary to persuade Acharya to step back.

At the same time, some business leaders are reportedly encouraging Acharya to remain in the contest, arguing that he possesses the leadership capability needed to steer FNCCI in the coming years.

Sources further suggest that Prabal Jung Pandey may eventually support either Acharya or Sanghai at the last minute, while his backing for Ambika Paudel in the treasurer race appears more certain.

Under FNCCI bylaws, newly elected executive committee office-bearers and members are responsible for electing the senior vice president and treasurer. As a result, business leaders say political equations could shift until the final moment, making it difficult to predict the outcome based solely on current vote calculations.