The election for the Nepali Congress parliamentary party leader, who would be automatically next prime Minister, is to be held tomorrow (Sunday), according to Nepali Congress party. The three-member election committee that was formed Friday by the NC central committee to conduct the election for parliamentary party leader announced election programme Saturday.

According to the programme, lists of members of parliamentary party would be published at 8 am Sunday. Those who want to contest the election for parliamentary party leader have to file nominations from 8:30 am to 9:30 am.

Candidates can withdraw nominations from 10:30 to 11:15 am Sunday. The final list of the candidates would be published at 11:15. If there are more than one candidates, voting would be held from 3 pm to 5 pm Sunday. Counting would begin at 5 pm and results would be declared after the completion of the counting.

The election committee has said that in case any candidate does not secure more than 50 per cent votes (if there are more than two candidates in the fray), the second round of election would be held between two candidates who have secured highest and second highest votes in the first round of election.

The election for the new parliamentary leader is being held as Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala resigned from his post Thursday. Sushil Koirala, Ram Chandra Poudel, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Chakra Prasad Bastola have announced their candidacy for the leader of NC parliamentary party so far.

However, Deuba and Koirala seem to be the main contender. Prime Minister Koirala has not supported any candidates so far but his support would be decisive for any candidate to win the election. Prime Minister Koirala is likely to support his nephew Sushil Koirala.