KATHMANDU, March 20: Names of 11 aspiring candidates from the Nepali Congress (NC) have been recommended to the party center for the by-elections to be held on April 25 in Chitwan-2.

Names of district party president Rajeshwar Khanal, outgoing district president Jitnarayan Shrestha, Devendra Gurung, Milanbabu Shrestha, Rajan Karki, Kailash Koirala, Bipin Ramudamu, Devaki Gautam, Parvati Shah Thakuri and Gauri Shrestha have been recommended along with Congress candidate Umesh Shrestha who was defeated in the last election.

Regional NC President Bharat Lamichhane said  that the Chitwan meeting had recommended their names and sent them to the party center.

Lamichhane said that it has been decided to send a request to the higher authorities to withdraw the actions taken against party leaders and cadres including NC former district president Bikas Koirala, general committee member Meena Kharel, former parliamentarian Jagannath Paudel, former parliamentarian Bhim Bahadur Shrestha, former president of Tarun Dal, Shambhu Aryal, AND former secretary of Tarun Dal Anand Raut.

Rabi Lamichhane of Rastriya Swatantra Party, who won from Chitwan-2 in the federal election held last November, is to participate in the by-election after the Supreme Court revoked his position as a member of parliament on the grounds that he had submitted fake citizenship and won as a candidate.

There is a possibility that Lamichhane will become a candidate for the by-election from the Rastriya Swatantra Party. District Chairman Ram Prasad Neupane, outgoing mayor of Kalika Municipality Gopi Shrestha are likely to become a candidate from the UML. 

The Maoists have not yet reached a conclusion whether to field their candidate or support other candidates. The Election Commission has announced the program for registration of candidature on the 3rd of April. 

 
• Nepali_Congress
 
• Chitwan-2
 
• By-election