Beggar elected unopposed in Nepal local body poll farce

Out of total 4,146 posts for representatives in 58 municipalities, no one has filed nominations for 2,104 posts, according to officials. Out of the 3,654 candidates contesting for the municipalities, 647 including 60 mayoral candidates have withdrawn their candidacy.

Many candidates are withdrawing their candidacy through statements as the date of withdrawal has ended. There are also reports of candidates withdrawing their candidacy after being declared elected unopposed.

In Dhangadi, Tikapur and Dolakha municipalities nine candidates who were elected unopposed resigned before taking up jobs, according to The Kathmandu Post. It also reports of a man elected unopposed and “kept indoors for security reasons” putting in his papers after “setting himself free”. He alleged that the security personnel had not allowed him to withdraw his candidacy on Saturday.

Another candidate elected unopposed as ward chairman of Damak municipality resigned soon after he took oath saying he was locked in a room and forced to take the oath, media reports said.

In an interesting case, a beggar was elected unopposed to the Rajbiraj municipality as its ward member, the newspaper says. “Now I won’t have to beg any more”, Sita Devi, who begs on the streets to feed herself, quoted as saying.

‘Black day’ protest

Kathmandu: A team of international journalists will assess the condition of the Nepalese press in the aftermath of the royal government imposed media curbs and join the local press in the “black day” demonstrations on

February 1 marking the anniversary of King Gyanendra’ power grab. The Federation of Nepalese Journalists have

decided to observe the day

as “black day” and have planned numerous protest

demonstrations. —PTI