POKHARA, Oct 23: The electoral alliances formed through the decisions of the central committees of various political parties to stand a better chance in the upcoming parliamentary and provincial elections have led to widespread criticisms at the district level.
Political leaders in various districts of Province 4 explicitly expressed their dissatisfactions during the candidacy registration for the elections. District-level leaders of various parties said they felt robbed of the opportunities as election seats were awarded to the electoral allies.
For instance, leaders of the Baglung chapter of CPN-UML have objected to the ticket distribution for the upcoming polls. As per the agreement reached by the left alliance, UML filed candidacy only from Baglung constituency-1 while giving Baglung Constituency 2 to its electoral ally, the CPN (Maoist Center). UML leaders of Constituency-2 who gave up the candidacy due to the alliance expressed severe objection.
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The disgruntled UML leaders have fielded rebel candidates against the party's decision for provincial elections from Constituency-2. District level leaders of UML claimed that the party's central committee has ignored the interest of locals.
“It is not necessary that we have to be the ones to sacrifice to make others win. That is why we filed an independent candidate,” said Chintamani Sharma, regional member of UML in Constituency-2.
“We are fully committed to helping our candidates. This decision to file independent candidacy was taken by the party's regional committee,” he informed.
On the other hand, Maoist Center's Dhan Bahadur BK filed his rebel candidacy from Constituency-2 for the parliamentary elections against his party's leader Devendra Paudel. “Although my name was at the top while sending recommendation from the party, the central committee instead decided to field someone who has never worked in the district,” said BK, explaining why he filed his candidacy.
While clarifying that he would not withdraw his candidacy, BK said someone who has not delved deep in the constituency should not be made a candidate on the excuse of the alliance.
Likewise, KB Bhandri of Nepali Congress (NC) also filed his rebel candidacy from Myagdi for provincial elections in Province-1. Another NC leader Netra Mahat has also done the same after being dissatisfied with NC's electoral alliance with Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). The RPP-NC alliance has fielded RPP's Bhim Prasad Gauchan, enraging NC's local leaders.
