Election will be held in Delhi only, difficult decision for India
The elections will be held from October 30 to November 2 in New Delhi and the winner will be chosen on the basis of majority vote of the 11 member states. These 11 member countries are Bangladesh, Bhutan, North Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. Only those who get the support of more countries will win. The contest is between Saima Wajed, daughter of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and Nepal’s top WHO official Shambhu Prasad Acharya.
India is yet to decide whom it will support, but the Bangladesh candidate is being given the lead. This is because India and Bangladesh have close relations and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has tweeted in support of Saima Wajed. However, the Nepalese government is also active in this election and is trying to garner support in favor of Shambhu Prasad Acharya. Acharya has had a long and successful career at WHO and is a strong candidate for the position.
India seems to be tilting in favor of Bangladesh
In this regard, some officials said that India still has ‘some time’ left to clarify its position. Wajeed or Acharya should be supported for the post of WHO SEARO Director, it will be considered in time. He also indicated that India’s balance might tilt towards Bangladesh. Wajeed is a psychologist and advisor to the Government of Bangladesh. She will come to Delhi with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and her mother Sheikh Hasina, who is coming to attend the G-20 summit.
However, officials say that like other elections under the United Nations system, lobbying will have great importance in this election too. Bangladesh and Nepal will hold talks with the remaining nine member states and in those talks, the member states will express their expectation of support for them in the coming opportunities at the United Nations. Then each country will decide whom it will support.
Candidates from Nepal far ahead in terms of experience
On the other hand, Mr. Acharya is currently the Director of Country Strategy and Support in the office of Secretary General Tedros Gebreyes at WHO’s Geneva Headquarters. He is considered very experienced in this role. The Nepal government has also launched a strong campaign in his support, although it is not as high-profile. Acharya held a meeting of ambassadors of SEARO member countries in Kathmandu last week. Diplomatic sources at the meeting said Acharya gave a presentation and sought support from all members based on his own career as a public health official. As a WHO official, he served in Dhaka from 1992 to 1997 and Delhi from 1997 to 1999 and has been at the headquarters in Geneva for the last 24 years.
Bisho Parajuli, former World Food Program director in India, wrote on the social media site X, “We believe that the merit system will prevail and the most suitable candidates will be selected by the member countries.” Parajuli is a Nepalese official who has worked with WFP and UNDP. He said that Acharya’s expertise in the field of WHO and public health is a great merit in itself. However, the final decision rests with India and it remains to be seen which candidate it supports. This will be a tough election and both the candidates have a good chance of winning.