KATHMANDU: Notorious gangster Rajiv Gurung alias Deepak Manange will contest provincial first-past-the-post elections from Manang ‘B’ as an independent candidate.

Manange had filed FPTP nomination as an independent candidate for Manang ‘B’, after UML refused to give him ticket.

However, UML’s candidate for Manang ‘B’ Khanda Lama Gurung has withdrawn her nomination for the provincial assembly seat.

Manang District Court Registrar Mona Adhikari, who is deployed for election duty, said Manange was among the six candidates contesting provincial and parliamentary elections from the district.

Earlier, CPN-UML Manang district committee had recommended Manange’s name for provincial elections. But the party refused to give him ticket after severe criticism from several quarters.