Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The CPN (Maoist Center), which is leading the ruling coalition, has decided not to field candidates in the by-elections scheduled for April 23.
While parties such as the Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) are preparing for the elections by finalizing their candidates, the Maoist Center is supporting candidates from other political parties.
The Maoist Center is supporting the candidates of the Nepali Congress (NC) in Tanahun-1 and Chitwan-2 and the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) in Bara-2.
As per the election program published by the Election Commission, candidates will have to register their nominations during office hours on Monday.
The NC has fielded its central committee member, Govinda Bhattarai, in Tanahun-1. Members of the ruling coalition, including the Maoist Center, JSP, and Unified Socialist, are supporting Bhattarai in the constituency. These parties are also supporting the NC in Chitwan-2, where it has fielded its district committee president, Jit Narayan Shrestha.
The Maoist Center is supporting the candidates of the Nepali Congress (NC) in Tanahun-1 and Chitwan-2 and the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) in Bara-2.
JSP Chairman Upendra Yadav is contesting in Bara-2. The NC, Maoist Center, and Unified Socialist are supporting Yadav in the constituency.
The newly-formed RSP is fielding candidates in all three constituencies. Party President Rabi Lamichhane is contesting in Chitwan-2. Similarly, the party has picked Dr. Swarnim Wagle, who recently defected from the NC, for Tanahun-1, and former cop Ramesh Kharel for Bara-2.
Likewise, the UML has picked former IG of Nepal Police Sarbendra Khana in Tanahun-1 and Ram Prasad Neupane in Chitwan-2. The party has not picked its candidate for Bara-2, but it is expected that the party will also support Yadav.
Similarly, the RPP has selected Shobha Gurung for Tanahun-1, Jivlal Puri for Chitwan-2, and Sonalal Sah for Bara-2.
Maoist Center Secretary Hitraj Pandey said that although the party had staked its claim for one of the three seats, it decided to support candidates from the ruling coalition.
“Due to various reasons, the Maoist Center won’t have its candidates in the by-elections. We have chosen to support candidates from the ruling coalition,” he added.
