44 Candidates in the Fray for Eight Posts in Karnali

By Rajan Rawat,Humla, Nov. 24: A total of 44 candidates are competing for eight vacant posts in Karnali Province in the upcoming local-level by-elections scheduled for 1 December. Of these, 41 are from political parties, while three are independent candidates.

The by-elections will be held for the vacant positions of one chairperson and one vice-chairperson of a rural municipality, one deputy mayor and five ward chairpersons.

Twenty candidates have registered their nominations for the posts of chairman, vice-chairman and deputy mayor, including two independent candidates.

Seven candidates are contesting for the position of chairperson of Mahabu Rural Municipality in Dailekh. These candidates represent the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Centre), Unified Socialist Party, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and Nepal Workers Peasants Party (NWPP).

Political parties have already launched separate electoral campaigns for the upcoming by-elections. Political parties and independent candidates have filed their candidacies for all eight positions.

The by-elections will be held for the post of chairperson of Mahabu Rural Municipality in Dailekh, deputy mayor of Nalgad Municipality in Jajarkot, and vice-chairman of Sarkegad Rural Municipality in Humla.

Similarly, candidates are competing for the position of ward chairperson in Ward No. 4 of Tilagufa Municipality in Kalikot, Ward No. 5 of Tripurasundari Municipality in Dolpa, Ward No. 7 of Kushe Rural Municipality in Jajarkot, Ward No. 13 of Dullu Municipality in Dailekh and ward No. 5 of Sanibheri Rural Municipality in Rukum West.

Jhalak Bahadur Bhandari of the Nepali Congress, Jung Bahadur Shahi of CPN-UML, Jung Bahadur Baral of CPN (Maoist Centre), Jagat Hamal of CPN (Unified Socialist), Prakash Budha of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Surje Rawat of RPP and Durg Bahadur Magar of NWPP are contesting for the post of chairperson in Mahabu Rural Municipality, Dailekh.

CPN-UML candidate Jung Bahadur Shahi was previously elected as chairman of Mahabu Rural Municipality in 2074 BS. 

However, he was defeated in the 2022 local election when he ran as the candidate of CPN (Unified Socialist). Now, Shahi has returned to UML and is once again contesting for the position of chairperson of Mahabu from CPN-UML.

Six candidates are vying for the position of deputy mayor of Nalgad Municipality in Jajarkot. The candidates are Indra Chand Singh from Nepali Congress, Sunita Bohara from UML, Sunita Pun Rawal from RPP Nepal, Devka Lamichhane from CPN (Maoist Centre), Pabitra Jaisi from CPN (Unified Socialist) and Parbati Pun from RSP.

Seven candidates, including two independent candidates, are contesting for the position of vice-chair of Sarkegad Rural Municipality in Humla. The candidates are Sabita Budha from Nepali Congress, Jana Shahi from UML, Debaki Timalsina from CPN (Maoist Centre), Sangita Shahi from RPP, Banchu Shahi from RSP, and independent candidate Naresh Shahi.

A total of 24 candidates are contesting for the post of ward chairperson in five districts, with 23 candidates from political parties and one independent candidate.

In Ward No. 4 of Tilagufa Municipality in Kalikot, six candidates are vying for the position of ward chairperson, including Ain Bahadur Shahi from UML, Khadka Bahadur Shahi from NWPP, Gagan Bam from RSP, Gogan Bahadur Shahi from RPP, Nainshoba Shahi from CPN (Maoist Centre) and Pal Bahadur Shahi from NC.

In Ward No. 5 of Tripurasundari Municipality in Dolpa, four candidates are contesting for the post of ward chairperson, including Nar Bahadur Rokaya from UML, Jyoti Gharti from CPN (Unified Socialist), Nar Bahadur Jhankri from CPN (Maoist Centre) and Rajendra Prasad Neupane from NC.

In Ward No.13 of Dullu Municipality in Dailekh, six candidates are contesting for the post of ward chairperson. Lal Bahadur Shahi from UML, Sher Bahadur Shahi from NC, Dhakendra Shahi from CPN (MC), Resham Shahi from RPP, Ram Bahadur Shahi from Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Punar Prasad Upadhyay from NWPP are the candidates.

In ward No. 7 of Kushe Rural Municipality in Jajarkot, five candidates are running for the post of ward chairperson: Dambar Bahadur Gharti from UML, Khamba Bahadur Singh from NC, Gorakh Bahadur Nepali from CPN (Maoist Centre), Lal Bahadur Khatri from RPP and Kaman Sarki from RSP.

Similarly, for the post of ward chair in Ward No. 5 of Sanibheri Rural Municipality in Rukum West, four candidates are contesting: Jasiram Basnet from CPN (Maoist Centre), Motiram Khatri from NC, Hansraj Puri from UML and Bir Bahadur Basnet, an independent candidate.

Likewise, the Nepali Congress is focused on preserving its legacy in the by-elections, while UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) aim to challenge NC’s stronghold.