UML intensifies process for nominations of candidates for March 5 election

Kathmandu, Jan 5: The CPN (UML) has intensified the process of nominating candidates for the upcoming election to the House of Representatives under the first-past-the-post system, scheduled for March 5.

District and electoral constituency committees continue to recommend candidates for the election. From some districts, single names have been proposed, while others have recommended the names of all aspiring candidates.

According to Party Secretary Mahesh Basnet, 24 electoral constituencies have recommended single candidates. They are: Jhapa-5 (KP Sharma Oli), Rupandehi-2 (Bishnu Paudel), Dang-2 (Shankar Pokhrel), Kailali-4 (Lekhraj Bhatta), Bhaktapur-2 (Mahesh Basnet), Gulmi-2 (Pradeep Gyawali), Kathmandu-5 (Ishwor Pokhrel), Siraha-3 (Leelanath Shrestha), Rautahat-1 (Ajay Gupta), Sarlahi-3 (Hari Upreti), Nawalpur-2 (Tilak Mahat), Gorkha-2 (Milan Gurung), Nuwakot-1 (Badri Mainali), Banke-1 (Surya Dhakal), Banke-3 (Dal Bahadur Sunar), Kapilvastu-1 (Bishram Chaudhary), Ilam-2 (Suhang Nembang), Mahottari-1 (Laxmi Mahato Koiri), Surkhet-1 (Dhruba Shahi), Surkhet-2 (Kaladhar Devkota), Salyan (Gulabjung Shah), Kathmandu-2 (Maniram Phuyal), Baitadi (Damodar Bhandari), and Darchula (Ganesh Thagunna).

Some other electoral constituencies and districts are also likely to recommend single names unanimously. The final list of candidates will be finalized after all districts and electoral constituencies complete the nomination process and submit their recommendations to the central committee.

Meanwhile, the Commission formed to probe the incidents related to the September 8–9 Gen Z movement has decided to withdraw the travel restrictions imposed on former Prime Minister and CPN (UML) Chair KP Sharma Oli.

A meeting of the Commission held today decided to revoke its September 28 decision that barred Oli from traveling abroad and from leaving the Kathmandu Valley without prior approval from the Commission.

According to Commission member and spokesperson Bigyan Raj Sharma, Oli was questioned in his capacity as the then Prime Minister, after which the restrictions were lifted. A Commission team had reached Oli’s residence in Gundu on Sunday as part of the inquiry, and Oli submitted his response in writing.

The Commission has already recorded statements from the then Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, chiefs of four security agencies, and the heads of district administration offices.

The Commission has intensified its work, and the process of recording statements is almost complete. It has met with individuals directly involved in the Gen Z movement as well as other related persons during the investigation. The deadline of the Commission, which was formed on September 21 with a three-month term, has been extended by one month.—