Dissenters file candidacy challenging respective authorities

KATHMANDU: Fight for contending elections in the direct system got intense on Thursday, as party rebels and dissenters challenged some of the big ones.

Padam Kunwar of Baglung, has filed candidacy from Kathmandu 10 contend with UCPN Maoist Chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal. Kunwar had hit the headlines after slapping Dahal during the latter party’s tea reception last year in the capital.

Similarly, Nepali Congress leader Suprabha Ghimire has rebelled against party’s decision of not providing her ticket to contend from her constituency, Kathmandu-4. She has filed independent nomination for the constituency and will now contend against her former party’s influential youth leader Gagan Thapa.

Likewise, UCPN-Maoist leader Ganesh Tamang has challenged his namesake and party’s official candidate, Ganesh Regmi, at Kathmandu-3.

In Tanahun, NC youth leader Purna Bahadur Gurung has rebelled against the party’s vice president, Ram Chandra Paudel.

Gurung, who is believed to be close to jailed leader Khum Bahadur Khadka, filed his nomination at Tanahun-2, the constituency, where Paudel is also contesting.