Bista-led 'progressive' panel registered wins in majority of the positions in the 42-member central committee in the umbrella organisation of Nepali journalists. Backed by CPN-UML aligned Press Chautari Nepal, UCPN (Maoist)-aligned Revolutionary Journalists Association and other journalists associations affiliated with other fringe left parties, Bista defeated his competitor Poshan KC of the pro Nepali Congress Nepal Press Union by 80 votes. In the close competition Bista garnered 668 votes while KC could secure 590 votes.

Similarly Khila Bhahadur Bhandari has been elected vice-president of the FNJ under the open category while Anita Bindu managed to secure winning votes for the same post under inclusive category.

Bindu is only candidate of the 'democratic' panel to get elected in nine member office bearer. Bhandari secured just five votes more than his rival Ramji Dhahal. Likewise, Ujir Magar was elected as general secretary defeating his competitor Jagat Nepal of the democratic panel.

Prabhat Chalune was elected secretary in open category, Dharbendra Karna from the inclusive category, Sangeeta Khadka from women and Durba Lamsal from the associate group. Similarly, Surya Gautam secured a win in the post of treasurer. Of the total 1,651 representatives of the convention 1,546 cast their votes in the election that concluded on Sunday night.

After the win Bista said he would work to enhance the working conditions of the journalists. He vowed to prioritise the effective enforcement of the Working Journalists' Act and raise the minimum wage fixed by the government besides insurance, medical coverage and training to media persons during his three years of tenure.

He said he is committed to set up a media commission and media training academy to uplift professional skills of journalists. “My entire focus will be to bring reformation in the journalism sector,” he told the Post. “I will work to gain the confidence all of those who were our competitor and develop FNJ as an umbrella organisation of journalists in a true sense.”

He also pledged for the institutional reforms in the FNJ and the Press Council Nepal. For the 42-member committee, around 100 candidates including a dozen independents were in the fray.