Kathmandu, Feb. 3 -- Under newly elected party president Gagan Thapa, the Nepali Congress entered the election race with renewed energy and confidence. Several leaders close to former party president Sher Bahadur Deuba and senior leader Shekhar Koirala, who strongly opposed the special convention, are contesting the March 5 elections.

However, the absence of several influential leaders, both as candidates and in the electioneering, could impact the party's electoral showing, party leaders and cadres say.

Several influential leaders who won the previous elections have been denied tickets, including vice-presidents Purna Bahadur Khadka and Dhan Raj Gurung, former general secretaries Prakash Man Singh and Shasanka Koirala, and leaders such...