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Bibeksheel Nepali picks 21-yr-old Ranju for Kathmandu Mayor

Bibeksheel Nepali Party has nominated 21-year-old Ranju Darshana to run for the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City in the upcoming local level elections slated for May 14. Bibeksheel Nepali picks 21-yr-old Ranju for Kathmandu Mayor

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Published at : April 18, 2017

Updated at : April 20, 2017 14:14

Kathmandu

Bibeksheel Nepali Party has nominated 21-year-old Ranju Darshana to run for the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City in the upcoming local level elections slated for May 14.

Ranju was picked after she expressed her interest to contest for Mayoral post on behalf of the party based on the party’s ‘open candidacy policy’ for the upcoming local elections, the party said in a statement on Tuesday.

Darshana is the only lady vying for mayoral post in the upcoming local polls. The party has claimed that she is the youngest candidate in Nepal’s election history.

“Acknowledging the role of young new generation to fulfill the dream of this generation in solving the underlying local problems, we nominate Ranju,” said Bibeksheel Nepali Chairman Ujjwal Thapa.

“We also realise that the city like Kathmandu requires a highly capable team to lead and we have made necessary preparations towards that end,” Chairman Thapa said.

Ranju Darshana was born in Kathmandu and she is pursuing her Bachelor’s in Development Studies.

“I expect your support and assistance in establishing Kathmandu as the world’s most beautiful city. We can together break the old political syndicate in Kathmandu,” said Darshana in the statement.

The party has said it would soon announce its candidates for Kathmandu’s deputy mayor, ward chairperson and members.

Ranju Darshana’s Story (Bibeksheel Nepali's press release)

Having grown up witnessing politics mired in violence, murder and vandalism, Ranju Darshana was attracted to Bibeksheel Nepali’s non-violent stance and its way of doing politics that would not inconvenience the public. The 21-year-old first became involved with Bibeksheel Nepali Party three years ago to participate in the party’s campaign against banda (general shutdown) during the second constituent assembly elections.

Following the anti-banda campaign, Ms. Darshana, who is currently Bibeksheel Nepali Party’s Media Department Chief as well as a central committee member, became associated with the party’s social services club and led various social programs. She was also actively involved in the relief programs after the 2015 earthquake. She headed the party’s Kathmandu District’s Executive Wing for eight months until December 2015.

Darshana was elected as a central member at the party’s first general convention in December 2015. Frustrated with the government’s slow post-earthquake reconstruction progress, she actively participated in Bibeksheel Nepali’s month-long public awareness and pressure campaign.

Darshana took leadership on behalf of Bibeksheel Nepali in supporting Dr. Govinda K.C.’s fight against corruption in the country’s medical education system and politics.

Darshana was born and raised in Kathmandu. Raised by a single mother, she considers the women in her life and especially her grandmother as her source of inspiration to move ahead in life. As someone who is committed to making Nepal a prosperous nation, she is doing her undergraduate in development studies.