UML picks candidates for NA elections

KATHMANDU, Jan 3: Main opposition CPN-UML has picked 19 candidates for the upcoming National Assembly Elections (NA). 

A meeting of the party’s top leaders on Monday gave a final shape to the list of candidates contesting elections for 19 vacant seats of the upper house representing the party. 

While Devraj Ghimire, Sumitra Bhandari and Sonam Gyalzen Sherpa will be fielded from Province 1, Asarfi Yadav and Bina Sah will vie for the membership of NA from Province 1. 

Similarly, the party is fielding Gopal Shakya and Nir Kumari Kunwar from Bagmati Province; Govinda Bahadur Nepali, Lila Pokharel Thanet and Punya Prasad Poudel from Gandaki Province and Krishna Bahadur Sunar, Bharati Khanal and Ram Dayal Gupta from Lumbini Province. 

The main opposition, which is sure to face a collective challenge by the five-party ruling alliance in the NA elections, decided to field Padam Bahadur Majhi, Ganga Thapa and Chunamani Sharma from Karnali and Naresh BK, Santosh Kumari Sharma and Dilliraj Bhatta from Sudur Paschim Province. 

As many 19 lawmakers are having their tenure expire from March 4, of which eight members belong to the UML. 

The Election Commission is holding NA polls on Jan 26.