KATHMANDU: The newly formed Sajha Party has announced to field former Secretary Kishore Thapa as its mayoral candidate in Kathmandu Metropolitan City. He, however, will contest the May 14 local level elections as an independent candidate.

Thapa, who is an architect, is the best candidate for the position considering the vital responsibility of the would-be mayor in decision-making affairs concerning the daily life of its residents and future of the city, Sajha Party said in a statement today.

The party has claimed that Thapa had a successful tenure as a civil servant  at various ministries with an immaculate character. He is currently a member of the Sajha Party's Central Coordination Committee.

A mayor with multidimensional capabilities is required to enhance the escalating situation of the metropolis, the press release added.

Thapa had topped the School Level Examinations in 2031 BS and is known for his meritorious achievements in academics as well as bureaucracy.

He studied at Bengal Engineering College, New Delhi-based School of Planning and New Jersey-based Architecture and Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University

He retired from the Government of Nepal as the secretary at Ministry of Urban Development.

Sajha Party, led by former journalist Rabindra Mishra, was announced in early March and is planning to file its leaders as independent candidates in the upcoming polls as it missed the deadline to register itself with the Election Commission.

Major parties are yet to field their candidates for mayor and deputy mayor in KMC.