Kathmandu: Bhagwat Bhattarai from Setopati.com has been elected as the president of the Society of Economic Journalists-Nepal (SEJAN) during the 27th annual general assembly. Bhattarai secured 110 votes, surpassing his competitors Asha Thapaliya, who received 41 votes, and Bishwas Regmi, who garnered 92 votes.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Jeevan Basnet from Karobar Daily was elected unopposed as the vice chair of the committee. Kamal Kumar Basnet, a sub-editor at National News Agency (RSS), won the position of general secretary with 139 votes, while his opponent Achyut Puri from Online Khabar received 104 votes.
Keshu Lamichhane from Ukalo.com was elected as the treasurer with 133 votes, defeating Mamata Thapa of Annapurna Daily, who received 108 votes. Shankar Pandit of Himalayan Television was unanimously chosen as the secretary to the committee. The newly elected members of the committee include Arjun Tamang from Tourismpati, Kamal Dhital from Bahrakhari, Bhojraj Bhandari from Corporate News, Raju Baskota from Clickmandu, and Sima Tamang from Kantipur Daily.
Chief Election Officer Dharmendra Jha handed over the certificates to the newly elected committee members. During the event, Jha, who is also the Executive Chairman of RSS, expressed his confidence that the newly elected executive committee would further enhance the dignity of SEJAN by addressing economic issues and strengthening its presence in the Nepali media.
Out of 266 general members of SEJAN, 246 votes were cast in the election.