Rukum, May 19

A couple in Rukum has recently drawn everyone’s attention by securing victory in the first phase of local level elections.

Prem Kumari Sunar KC was elected as deputy mayor of Musikot Municipality while her husband Gopyashwor KC made it to the post of ward chairperson from ward number 10 of the municipality in the local level polls.

Political analyst Narendra KC said the case of the couple winning the election from the same place could be the first in the country’s history. Both of them are active cadres of the CPN-Maoist Centre.

Gopyashwor had joined politics about 30 years ago, while Prem Kumari came into the scene some six years later. “We have sacrificed a lot for the sake of the party and society, and that’s why the party as well as voters trusted us,” said Prem Kumari.

Gopyashwor was directly involved in the 1990s democratic movement, and has played significant role in the struggle for dalits’ rights. “As we have no desire for property, we won’t be involved in any sort of financial irregularities,” vowed the couple.

In another case, father-in-law and son-in-law have made it to the top post of two different municipalities in Rukum. Devilal Gautam was elected as the mayor of Musikot Municipality, while his son-in-law Garkha Bahadur KC got elected from Athbiskot Municipality. Both of them are associated with the CPN-MC.

“I lost my first daughter and her husband in the insurgency era. The party has faith in our honesty,” said Gautam. He also took the opportunity to thank voters for trusting them.