Party insiders said that the candidates selected were Pokharel´s relatives and near and dear ones. “The district committee has recommended two of the candidates under the first past the post system while seven are recommended under the proportional representative (PR) system,” the sources said. [break]
“Pokharel´s wife Sujita Sakya, his brother Devi Pokharel and sister Menaka Pokharel are also recommended under PR,” said a leader requesting anonymity. He further said that party Secretary Pokharel himself will contest from constituency no. 4, Dang.
“Dang district committee was reluctant to field Pokharel´s brother but following pressure from the Rapti Zonal Committee, the district committee yielded,” he said. The party leaders inform that the other relatives of Pokharel recommended as candidacies include Maya Acharya, Narayan Acharya, Prakash Acharya, Nirmala Ghimire and Lok Mani Acharya. They have been recommended to contest under the PR system.
Party leaders have accused Secretary Pokharel of nepotism.
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