UML clinches Pokhara-Lekhnath mayor and deputy mayor posts

Published On: May 27, 2017 01:00 AM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel and Santosh Subedi

POKHARA, May 27: CPN-UML candidates Man Bahadur GC and Manju Devi Gurung have been elected as mayor and deputy mayor, respectively, of Pokhara-Lekhnath Metropolitan City.

GC has secured 60,158 votes and deputy mayor Gurung bagged 56,448 votes. GC's nearest rival Ramji Kunwar of NC had secured 46,416 and Gurung's nearest rival Saraswati Gurung of NC secured 44,338 votes.

The UML won most of the wards in the metropolis, which has a total 168,000 voters. Of the total 33 wards, the UML won 22 wards and the NC won in the rest.

The newly-elected mayor and deputy mayors have announced that they will fill the vacuum caused by the absence of local elections for the past two decades. "There are many things to be done in the metropolis. We will be working for the prosperity and betterment of the city," said GC.

GC has expressed commitment to make maximum use of information technology to avail metropolis services without hassles to the people. "You will feel the difference within a few days," he said, adding that they will give priority to clean drinking water, youth entrepreneurship, technology-friendly services and sustainable development.

GC has announced to expedite the construction of Pokhara International Airport, build roads and a city buspark and arrange proper drinking water facility. Among other things, GC has vowed to make Lekhnath-Pokhara free from squatters.

Likewise, the newly-elected Deputy Mayor Gurung has announced to work for the preservation of natural and cultural resources and artifacts in Pokhara. "Our goal is to develop a well-managed Pokhara city. We will always work toward fulfilling that goal," she said.

Born in 1960, Mayor GC holds a bachelor's degree in education. He joined politics in 1980 and was actively involved in student politics before joining party politics. Likewise, Gurung has been active in UML politics since 1998. She has been working as chairperson of the UML's Kaski district chapter of Nepal Women's Association since 2015.