Contractors win vital posts in local units

One deputy mayor, five rural municipality chairs are contractors

KATHMANDU, May 22: About three dozen contractors associated with Federation of Contractors' Association of Nepal have been elected to different posts in local bodies in the recently held first phase of local level election.



Contractor Khadga Gopali, who contested in the election as a Nepali Congress (NC) candidate, has been elected deputy mayor of Thaha Municipality in Makwanpur district. Likewise, contractors have been elected as chairpersons of five rural municipalities in different districts, according to FCAN Secretariat.



Yudhisthir Khadka has been elected as the chairperson of Bigu Rural Municipality in Dolakha district. Likewise, Santosh KC has been elected as chairperson of Chhatreshwori Rural Municipality of Salyan district, according to FCAN. Both Khadka and KC contested in the election as NC candidates.



Likewise, Dhruba Shrestha and Ram Krishna Malla have been elected as the chairperson of Likhu Rural Municipality in Nuwakot and Jaljala Rural Municipality of Parbat, respectively, according to FCAN. Both contested in the election as NC candidates.



Contractor Prem Bahadur Tamang has been elected as the chairperson of Khadadevi Rural Municipality of Ramechhap district. He contested in the election as CPN-UML candidate.



According to FCAN, over two dozen other contractors have been elected as ward chairperson of different municipalities and rural municipalities.  



Contractor Surya Timilsina is in the mayoral race in Bharatpur Metropolitan City from Naya Shakti Nepal Party. But his chance of being elected is very slim.



Sharad K Gauchan, president of FCAN, expressed happiness over the election of contractors in local units. “It is good news that contractors have won crucial posts in local bodies,” he added.



But experts say election of contractors in local units might create conflict of interest. Balananda Paudel, an expert in local body restructuring, said that contractors might try to award contracts and procurements to their own firms,” Paudel said. “Their activities should be closely monitored.”



Talking to Republica, Ramkrishna Malla, the newly elected chairperson of Jalajala Rural Municipality, said he would give up his company responsibilities to others and devote fully to public service. “My firm holds license of 'C' class. Now onwards, my wife and brothers will handle my company. I won't be involved in my business in any way,” he added.



Experts have also suggested that the elected contractors should declare that they would keep their business interest away while discharging their duty in local bodies. 



Paudel also fears that newly elected representatives, who were in the 'political mechanism' of political parties constituted in local bodies, could pollute the new local units as many of them were involved in corruption and irregularities. 

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