UML loses at least 4 mayoral posts in Rupandehi local levels

By Laxman Poudel Bhairahawa, May 23: In most of the local bodies of Rupandehi, CPN-UML has lost the key post in the rural municipalities but won the majority seats of deputy chief.

This time, CPN-UML lost the seats it had won in the previous elections. Women who were contesting for the post of deputy chief won even in the areas where the party was defeated in the main post.

There are six municipalities in Rupandehi including one sub-metropolis. In all of them, CPN-UML women leaders have been elected as deputy chiefs.

They have expressed their commitment to implement a practical plan not only for physical development but also for human development as directed by the Local Government Operation Act. “We will work in such a way that even if the party loses the key post, it will not be realized,” said Uma Adhikari, Deputy Chief of Siddharthnagar Municipality.

In Butwal Sub-metropolitan City, Siddharthnagar Municipality, Lumbini Cultural Municipality, Devdaha Municipality and Sainamaina Municipality, CPN-UML had nominated women deputy chiefs and they have already won the elections. It is almost certain in Tilottama as well, where vote counting is going on.

CPN-UML could not save key posts in four out of six municipalities this time. The Nepali Congress, which formed an alliance and went to the polls, has won the major posts in those municipalities. 

Baburam Bhattarai of the CPN-UML lost the election by 7,533 votes. In the same city, Sabitra Devi Aryal defeated Chin Bahadur Gurung of the Unified Socialist by 7,924 votes in the post of deputy chief.

CPN-UML lost the key post in Siddharthnagar Municipality but Uma Adhikari won the post of deputy chief.

Likewise, Bina Rana won the post of deputy chief in Sainamaina Municipality for the second term.

Bidhya Lakshmi Gurung of CPN-UML also won as deputy chief for Devdaha Municipality for the second term. CPN-UML has also won the post of mayor in the municipality.

Congress won the post of Lumbini Cultural Municipality Chief while CPN-UML's Kalpana Harijan, 28, won the post of deputy chief. She participated in the election representing Dalit community. 

In Tilottama Municipality, CPN-UML's deputy chief candidate Jageshwar Devi Chaudhary is ahead of the nearest rival candidate Hem Lal Pandey of CPN (Maoist Centre) by about 4,000 votes.

Similarly, Madhuri Jaiswal, a candidate from CPN-UML, has won as vice-chairperson in Gaindhawa Rural Municipality. She defeated Manju Neupane of NC.

CPN-UML's Shanta Devi Gyawali has won as the vice-chairperson in Shuddhodhan Rural Municipality.