ILAM, Sept 6: As many as 56 people’s representatives elected under the CPN-UML in Ilam have signed their support for the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led CPN (Unified Socialist) on Monday.

District’s Coordination Committee Deputy Chief Chitrakala Baraili, member Purna Bahadur Basnet, Mayor of Soundarya Municipality Rana Bahadur Rai and Chairman of Maijogmai Rural Municipality Jeet Bahadur Rai, among others, have verified their signatures in favor of the Nepal-led Unified Socialist party.

Likewise, 10 ward chiefs out of 14 in Soundarya Municipality who were elected under the CPN-UML have decided to join the Unified Socialist party. Of them, 9 ward chiefs have decided to support CPN (Unified Socialist). 

According to Pema Urgen Lama, Chief of Ward 10, as many as 42 elected people’s representatives of the UML from Soundarya Municipality have shifted their allegiance to the new party. 

Earlier, the Election Commission had issued a September 7 deadline for people’s representatives and leaders to decide whether they would choose the new party. Among the 10 local levels in the district, four mayors in four municipalities and three chairpersons were elected in three rural municipalities in the district under the UML. Of them, three mayors and two chairpersons are still in the support of the UML. 

In 2017, the CPN-UML had emerged victorious in 47 out of 81 wards in the district. As many as 40 people’s representatives in Ilam Nagar, 55 in Soundarya, 22 in Chulachuli, 28 in Deumai, 19 in Phapphokthum, 43 in Maima, 23 in Maijogmai, 16 in Mangsebung, 14 in Rong and 27 in Sandakpur emerged victorious in the local election.  

According to the Chief of Soundarya Municipality Rana Bahadur Rai, the party has failed to maintain the support of people’s representatives despite their best efforts. “Many of the party members have shifted their support after the 10-point agreement for party’s unity was not implemented,” he said. 

 
• CPN-UML
 
• CPN_(Unified_Socialist)
 
• Ilam