Dhangadhi, April 30

The major political forces are struggling as they prepare the final list of candidates for local polls in Province 7.

According to Dinesh Chandra Subedi, CPN-UML secretary in the Province Committee Office, his party has finalised the candidates for all the posts in the province. “We finalised the candidates before April 24 as per the party’s directives. Though many candidates were nominated unopposed, in some places there were many aspirants. Hence, we had to convince them in different ways,” said Subedi.

Candidates were nominated unanimously in Achham, Bajhang and Darchula districts. However, Laxman Malasi misbehaved at the party’s province office when his name was not recommended as a mayoral candidate for Dipayal Silgadi Municipality in Doti. UML picked Manju Malasi as the mayoral candidate of Dipayal Silgadi Municipality. Former deputy mayor of the party Prem Shah argued that the party was doing injustice to him by ignoring him.

However, Subedi said that the party was distributing tickets to those leaders on the basis of popularity and seniority. He added that they were planning to collaborate with Rastriya Prajatantra Party while contesting polls in different places. “However, we are yet to take concrete decision in this regard,” he said. Nepali Congress is facing a hard time finalising candidates in many places of the province as a large number of candidates are eying the party’s nomination.

According to local leaders of the Nepali Congress, those leaders who were delegated to finalise the candidates have themselves shown interest in contesting polls. This has further increased the uncertainty. “Discussions are under way to finalise the list,” said NC central member NP Saud.

CPN-Maoist Centre said that it finalised more than 90 per cent candidates for local level polls. “We have finalised the candidates unanimously in more than 90 per cent places,” claimed Province 7 In-charge Lekhraj Bhatta. The Maoist party is planning to form an alliance with the NC in some places, according to Bhatta.

There are 88 local bodies in Province7 and the EC has scheduled polls in the province for June 14.