Speculations begin over chief minister in Province 7

Dhangadi, December 9

With initial poll results pouring in, people of Province 7 have started speculating about the future chief minister of the province.

The left alliance has won eight seats of the provincial assembly, from Bajura, Bajhang, Baitadi and Darchula districts, where provincial and parliamentary elections were held in the first phase. As per latest poll results, left alliance candidates are in the lead also in the remaining constituencies of the five districts. Considering the current situation, the left alliance is more likely to form the provincial government in Province 7.

Earlier, CPN-Maoist Centre’s Province 7 in-charge Lekhraj Bhatta and his CPN-UML counterpart Bhim Rawal were seen as the prospective candidates from the respective parties for the post of chief minister of the province.

However, both the candidates later contested for parliamentary seats.

Also, the name of UML Politbureau member Karna Thapa who also was touted as the possible chief minister of the province, has been listed under the proportional representation electoral system in the provincial election.

Most of the left alliance candidates contesting the provincial elections are second generation leaders. All Nepal Women’s Association’s treasurer Gauri Oli claimed that the unanimous candidate for chief minister of the province from the left alliance would be Thapa. “No other left alliance leaders in the province has political stature of Thapa’s. Therefore he would be the left alliance’s unanimous candidate for chief minister of Province 7,” said Oli.

“NC is lagging far behind in the FPTP elections in the province. So, it is likely to play a constructive role as opposition in the state assembly,” said NC’s Doti president Pradeep Deuba.