In addition, the parties also face threat from poll-opposing alliance led by the CPN-Maoist. Matters have turned worse for the parties with the CPN-Maoist led by Mohan Baidhya demanding donations from poll candidates. CPN-Maoist has sent letters to poll candidates in the district demanding donations. [break]
So far, the CPN-Maoist has written to six election candidates under the first-past-the-post electoral system seeking donations. The demand ranges from Rs 50,000 to Rs 150,000. The candidates receiving letters are from Nepali Congress, UCPN (Maoist) and CPN-UML.
The letters bear the signature of Manakamana, district secretary of the CPN-Maoist. Sher Bahadur KC, chief of the publicity department of CPN-Maoist in Rolpa district, said they have demanded Rs 150,000 from each election candidate from NC and UCPN (Maoist) and Rs 50,000 from CPN-UML candidates.
According to KC, letters demanding Rs 100,000 have been sent to UCPN (Maoist) candidate Ganeshman Pun and NC candidate Krishan Bahadur Rokaya, Rs 50,000 to CPN-UML candidate Khem Man Khadka.
Similarly, in constituency 2 of the district, CPN-Maoist has demanded Rs 150,000 from UCPN (Maoist) candidate Janardan Sharma and NC candidate Gopal Jang Shah and Rs 50,000 from CPM-UML candidate Thagendra Prakash Puri. KC also informed that his party has not demanded donation from candidates who cannot afford it.
Meanwhile, the UCPN (Maoist) has retuned the election related materials that the party cadres had looted from Nepali Congress a few days ago. UCPN (Maoist) had looted 200 T-shirts, 11 sets of loud speakers and other poll related documents from NC office in Chhawang VDC. NC leader Tilak Bhandari confirmed the return of election related materials by the UCPN (Maoist).
NC cadres attacked
An unidentified group attacked five NC cadres at Bafikot VDC on Thursday night. A group of masked goons had attacked NC cadres while they were returning after attending a public gathering organized NC.
Kali Bahadur Bohara, Gana Bahadur Bohara, Harku Oli, Birjit Pariyar have were injured in the attack, according to NC district secretary Harka Singh Khatri. Police said investigation into the incident is under way.
Three arrested for collecting donations illegally