CPN-UML fields only one woman for post of mayor in Province 7

Bajura, May 2

The CPN-UML has fixed almost all candidates to contest in the local polls from Province 7, but only one woman has secured election ticket to run for the top post ofa  local body here.

The province comprises a total of 88 local bodies including one sub-metropolis, 33 municipalities and 54 rural municipalities.

Till now, the party has finalised its candidates for all but one local body, i.e., Dhangadi sub-metropolis. Manju Malasi is the only woman candidate for the top post of a local body. Her name has been declared for the mayoral post from Dipayal Silgadi Municipality in Doti and Shivaraj Khadka has been selected for the post of deputy mayor.

According to UML central alternative politburo member and Province 7 deputy in-charge Karna Bahadur Thapa, the party has fielded women for the second post elsewhere in the district. “As there was only one woman claiming the topmost post in the entire province, the province committee by default selected her. Elsewhere, women will run for the second top post,” said the UML leader.

“In fact, earlier there was a woman being considered for the mayoral post from Lamki Municipality in Kailali, but her name was not there when the district committee sent its recommendations,” Thapa explained.

As for Dhangadi Sub-metropolis, the party is all set to select candidates. As of now, three names have been recommended for the top post in the sub-metropolis: Yagyaraj Joshi, Durga Jaishi along with a woman Kalawati. The party, however, has yet to finalise its candidate for the post.

As per the, political parties have to field a woman candidate for either of the top two posts at each local body. Women, however, have accused the leaders of discouraging them from running on the top post. “Though the rule has reserved woman’s candidacy for either of the top two posts, the party has deliberately restricted women’s candidacy to the second position only,” said UML district committee member Rukmini Shah.

Meanwhile, the party has finalised its candidates for all wards in the district.