NEPALGUNJ, July 4: Dr Dhawal Shamesher Rana has returned to power in Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan City after about two decades. Elected to the then Nepalgunj Municipality as a mayor representing CPN-UML in the local level elections held in 1997, Rana has emerged victorious in the race for the mayor of Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan city held on June 28 representing Rastriya Prajatantra Party(RPP).

He took the lead from the very beginning of vote count. He won the election with 12, 515 votes. He acceded to power at the local level second time defeating his closest rival Nepali Congress mayoral candidate Dr Suresh Kumar Kanodiya by a  margin of 3785 votes.

Rana is a resident of Ward-10 of Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan City. He holds a PhD in Political Science. His doctoral research revolved around local administrative bodies. He believes more in action than in speech.

Profoundly interested in development activities, Rana also equally takes interest in political and social activities. He is considered as a capable politician. 

Nepalgunj denizens still praise him for the contribution he made to Nepalgunj’s development during his last mayorship.

Analysts have attributed his victory to his past contribution to development as opposed to allegiance to ideology.

He joined an active politics at the age of 27. He contested the parliamentary election as an independent candidate in 1997. However, he lost the election. Then he joined CPN-UML in 2054 BS. In the same year, he contested the local level election as a mayoral candidate representing CPN-UML. He was elected to the then Nepalgunj Municipality, now elevated to Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan City, as a mayor.   

He gave up his affiliation to a communist party and joined Rastriya Prajatantra Party in 2064 BS. He stood for the election to the second Constituent Assembly held in 2070 BS from  Constituency-2 of Banke but was defeated by an infinitesimal margin.

He had been at the center of national politics when he took part in the second CA election since former president of Nepali Congress Sushil Koirala had also stood for the election from the same constituency.

Rana also became Vice-president and General Secretary of RPPN. Following party unification, Rana is General Secretary of RPP.

Rana has promised to make Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan city free from corruption. He considers good governance as his first priority. He has also promised to not take salaries and allowances from the government.

People are looking forward to knowing how he will govern Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan City during his five-year mayorship.

 
• local level elections 2017