Dhangadhi, January 31

More than two dozen central and district level leaders were routed in the VDC and municipal conventions of Nepali Congress in the far-western region after they were accused of being tourists in their home districts.

The central and district level leaders were accused of spending more time in Kathmandu and other cities and returning to the villages only during party conventions. Local party activists had launched a campaign to defeat the ‘tourist’ leaders in the local conventions.

Nrip Bud an NC leader from Kailali said they had launched a campaign not to elect the leaders who stayed outside the district. “We have elected leaders who were actively involved in party activities and stayed in the district,” Bud said. He added that the party cadres had routed many central leaders who pretended they cared for the people. “Even those elected now will face tough competition in the regional level convention,” he said.

NC Achham leader Laxman Khadka said the leaders who did not even show up during the Constituent Assembly election had come to the VDC and municipal conventions. “Party cadres have defeated the leaders who stayed outside the district,” Khadka added.

NC Doti leader Lal Bahadur BK said many leaders staying outside the district faced defeat in the local convention. “People did not vote for them as a punishment,” said BK.

Doti’s Chhatiwan Unit Committee did not elect ex-lawmaker Yagyaraj Pathak for not staying in the district and issuing a press statement against party’s candidate in the second CA polls.

Similarly, former state minister Chandra Singh Bhattari lost the election from Tikapur Municiplaity-8. Former state minister Sushila Swar too lost in the VDC convention.

NC Kailali leader Dharma Raj Ojha said Bhattari and Swar were accused of abetting opposition party candidate to defeat the party’s candidate in the CA polls.

NC Doti leader Lokendra Shahi said majority of the leaders, who registered their names from the VDC and municipality, were staying outside their districts.