CPN-UML’s vice-chair Astalaxmi Shakya has filed her candidacy for the vice-presidential election.

Shakya registered her candidacy at the Office of the Election Officer at New Baneshwar on Saturday.

Shakya’s candidacy was proposed by UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, vice-chair Subas Nembang, secretaries Gokarna Raj Bista, Raghubir Mahaseth, and Chhabilal Bishwakarma.

Other leaders of the same party Krishna Gopal Shrestha, Mahesh Bartaula, Tulsa Dahal, Bhagwati Neupane, and Yashoda Rijal have seconded the proposal.

A meeting of the party’s secretariat held early on Saturday had decided to field Shakya as the candidate for the post of Vice President.

According to UML Deputy General Secretary Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, the meeting had taken the decision unanimously.

Shakya is a former chief minister of the Bagmati Province. She is also the first female chief minister of Nepal.

Meanwhile, the coalition partners of the ruling alliance have decided to field three leaders as candidates for the post of Vice President.

The parties at a meeting of the alliance held at the prime minister’s residence on Saturday decided to register the candidacies of the three candidates as they could not agree on a common candidate.

Mamata Jha from the Janamat Party, and Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav and Pramila Yadav from the Janata Samajbadi Party will be contesting for the post of Vice President.

The Election Commission has scheduled the vice-presidential election for March 17. The parties must nominate their candidates on March 11.