Poll candidates seeking gangsters’ patronage

Kathmandu: Ishwor Pokhrel, contestant from Kathmandu Constituency No 5 for the upcoming Constituent Assembly polls, is hobnobbing with a notorious don Chakre Milan who is based on Maharajgunj, an area under Pokhrel’s constituency, in a bid to ensure a victory, according to a source. Don Milan is the brother-in-law of another CPN (UML) leader Pradip Nepal. Though Milan is doing time at the central jail in Sundharaon various criminal charges, the bars have not stopped him from running his illegal activities from the jail. He is conducting such activities inside the jail through his brother and other aides.  Milan, who wants to be called as a UML cadre, has been directing his henchmen to campaign rigorously in favour of Pokhrel and intimidate the opponents. Following the directive of the don, his gang-men are said to be working in favour of Pokhrel to make him win the election at any cost.
Police source said that UML general secretary Pokhrel went to Central Jail during Dashai to meet Milan secretly. Pokhrel chose Dashai holiday to meet Milan apparently to avoid the media and public notice. He had held a long talk with Milan during their meeting. Though what transpired during the meeting is still unknown, but the covert meeting by an election candidate with a notorious don in the run-up to the polls arouses suspicion. The meeting could be a
Pokhrel is not alone, while it comes for the politicians to seek favours from the dons. The nexus between the leaders and dons are not new phenomenon in Nepali politics.  While notorious dons of Kathmandu are openly campaigning for the political parties, candidates across the country who are at the forefront of the election campaigns are also using goons and dons for their ‘security’.
Dons are not only canvassing for a certain candidate or party, some parties have even fielded dons as their candidates in the CA polls. Notorious don Ganesh Lama is the candidate from Kavre for the Bijay Kumar Gachhadar-led Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Democratic). Nepali Congress (NC) has recommended Roj Rana- a filmmaker who has been arrested several times on various criminal charges-from Pyuthan. Though he did not succeed in bagging ticket for contesting the CA polls, he is actively engaged in the election canvassing of the NC.  Ramesh Bahun, Parshuram Basnet and Chari are openly engaged in the election campaigns of the UML. Another don Deepak Manange has established his own political party. Kumar Ghaitey and Baaghe are in favour of NC. They are entrusted with the responsibility to gather the mass in the election campaigns as well as capture booths at the remote parts of the country. Intimidating the voters are also what they do during the polling days to secure their favoured candidate’s victory, which in turn will ensure them the political patronage to their crimes and unlawful activities in the days to come.