National
UML tops others in fielding CM hopefuls
As nominations for both the phases of federal and provincial elections are over, the CPN-UML is ahead of other parities in projecting probable chief ministerial candidates in each province. Its second rank leaders are seen in the CM race.Binod Ghimire
As nominations for both the phases of federal and provincial elections are over, the CPN-UML is ahead of other parities in projecting probable chief ministerial candidates in each province. Its second rank leaders are seen in the CM race.
The UML and the CPN (Maoist Centre) have agreed to lead five and two provinces respectively, in the event of their victory as a leftist alliance, with senior leaders
contesting in all the provinces. While sharing the constituencies in a 60-40 ratio,
the two parties had agreed to have Maoist members as the chief ministers of provinces 5 and 6.
However, while allocating the Dang-2 federal parliamentary seat to Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara, the two parties agreed to field UML leader Shankar Pokharel as a provincial candidate, projecting the latter as the CM candidate from Province-5.
Vice-chair Asta Laxmi Shakya is the senior most leader to be a provincial candidate from the UML. Shakya, who is fighting the election in Kathmandu-8 (B), is the CM candidate for Province-3 where Rajendra Pandey, contesting from Dhading, is another probable contender from the party. The UML has fielded its Standing Committee member Bhim Acharya and Politburo member Sher Dhan Rai in Province-1, with the ultimate goal of appointing one of them as the CM in case of victory.
Another Standing Committee member Satya Narayan Mandal, contesting in Saptari-1 (A), is a probable CM candidate of the UML in Province-2. The party has fielded its Secretary Prithivi Subba Gurung in Lamjung as a provincial candidate, in an indication that he could be the CM of Province-4 if he and the party have the required electoral victory. Politburo member Prakash Jwala is a provincial candidate from Salyan, a probable face for the head of the government in Province-6. Politburo member Karna Bahadur Thapa is contesting from Bajura in the provincial election with an eye on the CM post in Province-7.
“We will select the CMs from among the top leaders contesting in the provinces. The party has fielded top leaders from each province to make sure that we can easily pick the CM candidate,” UML Vice-chair Shakya told the Post, adding that a formal decision would be taken after consulting with the Maoist Centre, a member of the left alliance.
According to Maoist Headquarters member Mani Thapa, the party will claim the CM’s post in provinces 2 and 6. Minister without portfolio Mahendra Bahadur Shahi and Naresh Bhandari are the probable CM candidates from the Maoist party in Province-6 though there is so such candidate visible in Province-2.
“Our party couldn’t convince top leaders to contest in the provinces. However, we will select our names after decision with the UML,” Thapa told the Post. He said the two parties will share the portfolios based on the electoral outcome.
The Nepali Congress has not fielded its top leadership in the provincial election. Except for provinces 4 and 6, the NC has not named its probable candidates.
NC parliamentary board member Gopalman Shrestha said Jeevan Bahadur Shahi and Tapta Bahadur Bista are probable CM candidates in Province-6. Central Working Committee members Pradeep Poudel, Dhurba Wagle and Kamal Pangeni are the likely faces in Province-4.
“Our party is focused on winning the elections. The candidates will be picked after the poll results,” he told the Post.
Prosperity after polls: Oli
DAMAK: CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has said the country will witness a new political system after the federal and provincial elections. There would be a new system of governance as per the people’s aspirations while the nation would find its path towards prosperity.
Talking to journalists in Damak, Jhapa, on Friday, Oli said the current parliamentary system is not best suited for the country’s prosperity. He hinted that the leftist alliance of the UML and the CPN (Maoist Centre) could go for directly elected executive head if they register a resounding electoral victory.
The UML chairman criticised the Nepali Congress for “indulging in loot in the name of democracy”. He alleged that conspiracies were still rife to foil the upcoming polls. (PR)