KATHMANDU, April 26: CPN UML's Provincial Committee at Province 3 has recommended five names to party's standing committee to pick a mayor candidate in Kathmandu Metropolitan City in the upcoming local elections.
According to Central Committee member Surendra Manandhar, the provincial committee recommended Jeevan Ram Shrestha, Bidya Sundar Shakya, Bidur Mainali, Basanta Manandhar and Kalpana Rijal for the post of mayor.
Likewise, Sujita Shakya, Shanti Adhikari, Ratna Gurung, Bidya Neupane, Shyam Bhandari and Indira Panta are recommended as possible candidate for the position of deputy mayor.
Despite wide speculation, the provincial committee has not recommended former mayor Keshav Sthapit and Gauri Pradhan.
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"The provincial committee made an understanding that only cadres active in party committees should be recommended and we decided to forward the names recommended by Kathmandu District Committee to the standing committee," said Surendra Manandhar.
The standing committee has all rights to pick a candidate and could alter the recommendation and pick a candidate not included in the list. However, the recommendations from concerned committees are considered significantly.
Among the recommended, Jeevan Ram Shrestha is central committee member of the party. He was member secretary of the National Sports Council twice and he is currently president of the Nepal Olympic Committee recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
Bidya Sundar Shakya is former ward chairman of the metropolitan city and he is secretary of the party's Kathmandu District Committee.
Bidur Mainali was deputy-mayor of the Kathmandu when Sthapit was the mayor of the capital city. Basanta Manandhar is former general secretary of the ANFSU while Kalpana Rijal is a leader active in All Nepal Women Association.
Among the recommended leaders for the post of deputy mayor, Sujita Shakya is party's central committee member. She is wife of party's standing committee member Shankar Pokharel. Shanti Adhikari is general secretary of All Nepal Women Association. She is daughter-in-law of former prime minister late Manamohan Adhikari.
Ratna Gurung is former lawmaker while Bidya Neupane is deputy secretary of Kathmandu District Committee. Shyam Bhandari is also former ward chairman of the city and a member at the party's District Committee.
Indira Panta is member of party's district committee member and a member at party's Finance and Planning central department. Basanta Manandhar, recommended for mayor and Indira Panta, recommended for deputy mayor, are husband and wife.
