Biratnagar, June 12

Election fever has gripped Biratnagar Metropolitan city in Morang.

CPN-UML, CPN-Maoist Centre and Rastriya Prajatantra Party have already fielded their candidates while the Nepali Congress and Madhes-based forces are yet to pick their contestants at the metropolis.

NC could not finalise its candidates due to internal conflict.

The CPN-MC and CPN-UML have begun their election campaigns in the industrial hub, which is said to be a stronghold of the NC.

CPN-UML has picked its District Chairperson Binod Dhakal as the mayoral candidate. Party activists loyal to Madhav Nepal faction were dissatisfied with Dhakal’s candidacy.

However, the party is struggling hard to finalise 19 candidates, including deputy mayor for the metropolis.

Municipal Coordinator of the party Sagar Thapa said that they had not made public the deputy mayoral candidate as they were seeking alliance with rival parties. Thapa said they would finalise the candidates of the wards within a day or two.

Meanwhile, CPN-MC has picked Biratnagar Metropolis In-charge Bhogendra Yadav as mayoral candidate and metropolis coordinator Namita Neupane as deputy mayoral candidate.

The party has finalised candidates for all the posts and wards of the metropolis. The party made public a commitment letter on Saturday, stressing infrastructure development. The party has been launching second phase of its door-to-door campaign.

Upgrading Biratnagar Airport, road construction along the Rani-Samathang section, distributing allowances for elderly citizens at their doorstep, land distribution to squatters and free wi-fi at the metropolis are some of the key election agendas of the Maoist party.

There are 112,832 voters in Biratnagar metropolitan city.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Mohan Baidhya-led Maoist party are also preparing for elections. RPP has picked Pralhad Sah and the Baidhya-led Maoists have picked Santosh Sarkar as their mayoral candidates at the metropolis.

As there are several leaders, including lawmaker Amrit Aryal, municipal Chairperson Bhim Parajuli and Central member Dila Sangraula among others, eyeing the mayoral post, Nepali Congress is facing a tough time finalising its candidates. However, NC has also has begun door-to-door campaigning.

Likewise, Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal is also yet to pick its candidates. The forum, which has formed alliance with Naya Shakti Party-Nepal, is carrying out internal homework to finalise contestants. Forum Nepal Rautahat Chairperson Raj Kumar Yadav said they would finalise the names within a couple of days. Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar-led Democratic Forum Nepal said that the party was holding discussions with party office bearers regarding the same.