KATHMANDU: Even as the five-party task force formed to allocate electoral seats has initiated discussions, the ruling parties have also intensified internal discussions on the distribution of seats in Kathmandu constituencies.
Sources said that the Maoist Center is claiming three seats out of the 10 constituencies in Kathmandu.
Likewise, the party is also claiming at least 5 out of 20 seats for the State Assembly.
According to a Maoist Center leader, the party feels “betrayed” in the recently-concluded local-level elections despite extending “honest support” to the Nepali Congress.
“Therefore, we do not want to repeat the same mistake this time,” the leader said.
The Maoist party feels “betrayed” in the local elections. Therefore, it wants to have a “respectable place” this time.
The leader said the Maoist Center is planning to field Standing Committee member Hitman Shakya, central members Anil Sharma and Himal Sharma from Kathmandu.
If Maoist Center succeeds in convincing other ruling partners, particularly the Nepali Congress, Shakya will file his candidacy from Kathmandu constituency-9 in the November 20 elections to the House of Representatives.
Nepali Congress, too, has a strong presence in the constituency.
Likewise, the Maoist Center is also likely to stake a claim in Kathmandu constituency-1, a stronghold of NC leader Prakash Man Singh.
However, Singh is also likely to change his constituency this time as he has shown his interest to contest from Kathmandu constituency-7.
Congress leaders say that Anil can be a strong candidate for the alliance because he is young and has not been involved in controversy to stop the wave of independence.
Meanwhile, the scenario in Kathmandu constituency-1 seems to be interesting as independent as well as other party candidates such as Rabindra Mishra, former Deputy Inspector General of Police Ramesh Kharel, and independent candidate Pukar Bam, among others, too, have shown interest to file their candidacy from there.
Likewise, another choice of the Maoist Center is Kathmandu constituency 3, and Kathmandu constituency-6.
However, it is likely that NC, too, would stake a claim in the constituency this time.
Meanwhile, NC general secretary Gagan Thapa is also likely to face pressure from his contenders in Kathmandu constituency-4 this time as some independent candidates have already shown interest to file nominations as a candidate for the House of Representatives.
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