KOKHARA, March 31: As the local polls slated for May 14 inch closer, intra-party fight for the candidacy of various posts of Bhimeshwar Municipality, the biggest municipality in Gorkha, has intensified.
There are altogether nine rural municipalities and 2 municipalities in Gorkha. Bhimeshwar, which has the main entrance to the district, is also connected to the district headquarters and popular markets. It is rich in natural resources and is a popular tourist destination. Due to these reasons, this municipality has caught the attention of many prospective candidates from various parties.
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These days, political leaders and cadres are busy lobbying for their candidacy for the post of mayor and deputy mayor in the municipality. People are speculating about the candidacies of different leaders on the streets, in the markets, and at the crossroads and tea stalls. As many as 22,000 voters are expected to participate in the election in Bhimeshwar municipality.
Nepali Congress (NC) district leader Ishwor Narayan Manandhar is being tipped as the party's mayoral candidate. Manandhar, a local of Bhimeshwar municipality, had contested the election for the party's district presidency in the recently held district convention. Manandhar, who commands a strong hold in NC's district chapter, is also said to be popular among the voters.
Similarly, Bharat KC and Rajendra Manandhar of the CPN-UML are said to be vying for the mayoral post of the municipality. UML's district committee had requested the party leaders and cadres not to announce their candidacies through social media. That is why most of the aspiring candidates have not yet spoken about their candidacy though they have already started lobbying inside the party. KC, who is from the law background, has been serving in the party's district committee for a long time.
Rabindra Manandhar is a former chief of the UML-aligned All Nepal National Free Student union as well as chief founder of the party in Bhimeshwar before entering the field of journalism. He has been elected as the chairperson of Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Dolakha for twice. Beside KC and Manandhar, Hari Bansha Chaulagain is also seen as a prospective candidate for the post.
From the Maoist Center, Hem Shrestha is likely to win the candidacy for the post of mayor.
