Rebel candidates back off from race

Udayapur, November 5

Rebel candidates, who had filed nominations against the left alliance, have withdrawn their candidacies in Udayapur.

CPN-UML’s politburo member Jagannath Khatiwada withdrew his candidacy filed against the left alliance’s common candidate CPN-Maoist Centre’s Suresh Rai for parliamentary seat in Constituency No 2 of the district.

Likewise, CPN-MC’s Binod Katuwal, another rebel candidate against Rai, also withdrew his nomination. UML leader Khatiwada said he had filed his nomination in line with the party’s decision. “However, I withdrew the nomination after party Chair KP Sharma Oli asked me to do so,” he added.

From constituency 2 Ka, rebel candidate Mohanburja Magar, the CPN-Maoist Centre’s Udayapur joint-in-charge, was made the left alliance’s main candidate for provincial seat by replacing Bhes Kumari Raut.

Raut, who had earlier filed her nomination, withdrew her candidacy after the party decided to back Magar instead. The office of the chief returning officer, Udayapur, said that since Burjamagar had filed his nomination as an independent candidate, he would be contesting the polls with the election symbol of an independent candidate, not the party symbol. However, on the other hand, a rebel candidate for provincial seat from constituency 2 Ka, UML’s leader Hom Bahadur Basnet refused to withdraw his candidacy. UML district Chair Ishwor Raut said Basnet could not be convinced to withdraw his nomination despite the party’s efforts.