The Nepali Congress has decided not to field a candidate for the election of the National Assembly vice-chairperson.

A parliamentary party meeting of the party held in Dhumbarahi on Sunday morning decided not to contest the election, according to Ramesh Lekhak, the party’s chief whip.

The election for the upper house vice-chair is scheduled for Monday. As per the election timetable, nomination filing is slated from 1pm to 4pm today. The CPN (Maoist Centre)’s Urmila Aryal will be filing her nomination from the ruling alliance.

The post has remained vacant after Shashi Kala Dahal of the Maoist Centre retired, completing her four-year tenure on March 5 last year.

Article 92 of the Constitution of Nepal states the chairperson and vice-chairperson of the National Assembly are elected within 15 days of the commencement of its first meeting. However, it doesn’t say when the election should be held if the positions become vacant in between.