Pokhara, January 27:

The candidates for the post of mayor and deputy mayor in the Pokhara sub-metropolitan city and Lekhnath Municipality have called on the government to resume talks with the Maoists for peaceful resolution of the prevailing political impasse.

Talking to this daily at the Office of the Election Commission in Kaski today, they said both the warring parties should come out of their obstinacy and resume talks. The Maoists should surrender arms prior to the talks, they added.

The Maoists have not threatened us, the poll candidates said.

They said they would work for the development of their cities if elected. Tourism development and promotion, corruption control, construction of a bus park, an international airport in Pokhara and Ring Road are on their manifestos.

Although Friday is opened for registering the claim to disqualify the election candidates, there were no such claims, said the chief district officer of Kaski and chief election officer, Madhav Regmi.

Special security arrangements have been made for the candidates, he said.

A source said the candidates were kept at the Pardi damsite-based guest house belonging to the Pokhara municipality. Forty-five candidates have filed for 92 posts in the Pokhara submetropolis, and 13 for 77 posts in the Lekhnath municipality.