Kathmandu, September 5

Major political parties have finalised candidates for the third phase of local-level elections to be held in Province 2 on September 18.

Comprising eight Tarai districts, the province has 136 local units, including one metropolis, three sub-metropolis, 73 municipalities and 59 rural municipalities. There are a total of 1,271 wards in these local units.

The Nepali Congress has finalised candidates for all the 136 local units in the province. NC leader Ananda Prasad Dhungana said preparations were in full swing with the aim of winning more than 100 local units. “Everything has been finalised and we are filing nominations tomorrow,” he said.

Announcing the candidates for the upcoming elections at a press meet here today, the CPN-UML said it would emerge as the number one party in Province 2.

CPN-UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokhrel said as the party was backed by strong organisation and ideology, it would emerge victorious in the elections. “We have taken this election as an opportunity to prove wrong the notion that CPN-UML is an anti-Madhes party,” he said.

He also said the UML would win the election on the basis of the general public’s support, not through alliances. “A grand alliance has been formed against the CPN-UML, but after this election, the concept of election alliance will be proved futile,” he said.

The CPN-Maoist Centre has also finalised its candidates. According to CPN-Maoist Centre leader Matrika Yadav, the party’s entire central committee, including Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, are in Province 2 and have concentrated on the polls.

Similarly, Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal has also finalised candidates for the upcoming local-level elections, according to its leader Keshav Jha.

Federal Socialist Forum Chairman Upendra Yadav said the party had finalised candidates for all the local levels in the province. “We are contesting all 136 local units on our own without forming any alliance,” he said, adding that the Tarai was with his party and that it would emerge as the top party in Province 2.

Yadav also said preparations were under way despite resources crunch. Rastriya Prajatantra Party leader Bhuvan Thapa said the party had finalised contestants for the polls.

Similarly, central leaders of Nepal Loktantrik Forum have reached Province 2 for election preparations after finalising the party’s candidates, according to a party source.