Kathmandu : If Sher Bahadur Deuba’s fresh utterances expressed in various interviews were taken at its face value then the Pokhara Summit of the congress party might see the repetition of the Battle Royale between the two declared rivals for congress presidency: Koirala and Deuba.

The confidence with which Sher Bahadur Deuba is talking with the press forces us to conclude that he is the next congress party president. However, this could be a day dreaming exercise for Deuba say those who have spent years and years with Koirala and understand the latter’s lust for chair.

On the other hand, Koirala supporters remain more than confident on the victory of Koirala at Pokhara.

“Come Pokhara! Girija will emerge out with flying colors”, said a staunch supporter of Koirala. He further said that since Deuba is sure to lose thus he would be advised to mend differences with the would be president so that some space could be offered to him by the new president in the party.

“And he should do this prior to the start of the convention”, added Koirala supporter.

Deuba supporters believe that their candidate will merge victorious with a thousand votes margin over Koirala.

A case perhaps of hoping against hope.

The congress convention begins two days from now and is supposedly being participated in by 1435 congress voters. The convention will elect its new president and some 18 central committee members through the use of the ballots. The new president will nominate the rest 18 members for the CC.

As usual, Koirala’s slogan has been that if he gets elected this round of elections as party president he would finish the yet “unfinished jobs” of the party.

On the other hand, Deuba claims that if the prestigious chair goes to him he would “unite” the party even by listening to those activists who differ on so many burning issues of the party. This is perhaps an indirect indication to Koirala who usually rejects the voices of his dissenters.

Now that the election of the congress president is round the corner, only a miracle can save Deuba from losing the game. In case he loses the election, which is perhaps his fate at the moment now, the Battle Royale will continue as many observers believe that a Deuba defeat will make him dead against his arch rival Koirala.

With 3M’s in hand and at work round the clock, Koirala is the next party president.