Most of them aspire for top provincial posts

KATHMANDU, Oct 23: Some central level leaders filed their candidacies for provincial assembly members on Monday, eyeing top provincial posts including chief ministers and ministers in the new federal setup. 

With the country holding the elections to provincial assemblies for the first time as per the new constitution, some leaders are set to shift their political ground to the provincial level from the central level. But some leaders who were predicted as contenders for provincial chief ministers are set to contest the central parliamentary elections. 

The alliance of left political parties including CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) has fielded many of their central leaders in the provincial elections, including UML secretary, politburo members and former ministers.  

Former Information and Communication Minister Sher Dhan Rai has filed his candidacy for provincial assembly election from Bhojpur (b), representing the left alliance. Rai is said to be eying the post of chief minister of Province 1.  Similarly, UML Secretary Prithvi Subba Gurung has filed his candidacy from Lamjung (b), eying the post of chief minister of Province 4. 

UML politburo members Pashupati Chaulagain and Rajendra Pandey have shifted their politics to the provincial level, with both eying the chief ministerial post of Province 3. Former Local Development Minister Rajendra Pandey has filed his candidacy from Dhading 1 (a), eying the post of chief minister of Province 3. Another UML politburo member Pashupati Chaulagain has filed his candidacy for Dolakha (b) as he is vying for chief minister of the same province according to UML leaders. The Nepali Congress-led alliance is yet to project its chief ministerial candidate for Province 3, but two-time Constituent Assembly (CA) member Jagdishwor Narshingh KC has filed his candidacy from Nuwakot 2 (a), eying the key leadership position of the province. 

Former Maoist Center CA member and trade union leader Salikram Jammakattel is also contesting the provincial election from Dhading 1 (b). Bishal Khadka who had contested the CA election from Dolakha-1 in 2013 has also filed his candidacy for the provincial assembly election from Dolakha (a). 

The NC-led democratic alliance has fielded former civil aviation minister Jeevan Bahadur Shahi in Province-6 election from Humla (b), projecting him as the alliance's chief ministerial candidate for Province 6. Similarly, former energy minister Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, who had gained public praise for registering the impeachment motion against Lok Man Singh Karki has filed his candidacy for the provincial assembly elections from Kalikot (b) from the left alliance, eying the post of chief minister of the same province. 

Former CA member and state minister Radhika Tamang has filed her candidacy from Nuwakot 1(a) for the provincial assembly elections, representing the Maoist Center. UML politburo member Arun Nepal, who had fought the CA election from Sindhupalchowk-1, has now filed his candidacy for the provincial assembly election from Sindhupalchowk 1(a). Former Cricket Association of Nepal president Tanka Ambuhang, who had contested the CA election from Taplejung in 2013, has filed his candidacy for the provincial assembly elections from Taplejung (b). 

 
• central
 
• level
 
• leaders
 
• contesting
 
• provincial
 
• assemblies