BIRATNAGAR, Oct 29: Disgruntlement has surfaced in the CPN (Maoist Center) Morang District Committee, with the recommendation of party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal's son-in-law as a provincial assembly candidate.
The district committee of the party has recommended 'non-political figure' Jeevan Acharya alone for the provincial assembly candidate from Morang-6a just because he is Dahal's son-in-law, said local leaders of the party. Party sources said that Dahal has urged other aspirants in the party to give up any expectations of contesting from the constituency.
Maoist Morang in-charge Gopi Achhami confidently claimed that Acharya will get the ticket for Morang -6a for the December 7 provincial assembly elections.
District leaders of the party have vented their ire, calling into question the political affiliation and contributions of Dahal's son-in-law. Former lawmaker Aman Lal Modi, who was also an aspirant from the constituency, has publically criticized Acharya's unique recommendation.
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“I am not opposing Acharya's recommendation as it is a party decision and I should respect it. My concern is that the party should manage a ticket for someone like me who has made a contribution. I am ready to contest the polls even if the party assigns a ticket for me for parliament,” he told Republica.
Acknowledging the objections from Modi, party Moran in-charge Achhami said the objection was not valid as Acharya had decided to contest following a request from all leaders of the party in the district. “Amanjee has expressed his disgruntlement over the recommendation, which is not good as Acharya decided to contest upon a request from all of us,” he said.
Dahal's daughter Ganga married Acharya, a local businessman, four years ago. Most of those recommended by the party district committee for the provincial assembly polls are veterans and senior party leaders. Local Maoist leaders and cadres have also taken to social media to express their discontent over the recommendation a Dahal son-in-law.
Advisor to the party Binod Ghimire vented his ire stating that Acharya doesn't have any knowledge of local politics and has not been involved in politics for long. “Acharya doesn't have any political status nor has made any contributions in Morang district and he doesn't have any role in the constituency either,” said Ghimire.
Stating that it would be wise to field a candidate from the Tharu community in a Tharu-majority constituency, he also warned of the possibility of a rebel candidacy against Acharya if the party didn't field Modi instead. “Our party has taught us to oppose wrongdoing. Acharya doesn't have any political status for getting a poll ticket other than being a relative of Chairman Dahal,” he reiterated.
According to Achhami, the Maoists have finalized all candidates contesting the provincial assembly election from the district, following the alliance with the CPN-UML.
“However, division of constituencies is yet to be settled with UML. We have demanded six constituencies for the province and three for parliament but UML is ready to leave us four and two seats for the province and the center respectively,” he said.
