BIRATNAGAR, March 31: As the election fever grips the country, there is a tough competition within the political parties for candidacy in the election.

Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoists Center), CPN-UML and other parties have been carrying out a series of programs across the nation including in Biratnagar. The parties are busy assessing strong candidates and announcing their names. 

Over a dozen local leaders of the Nepali Congress aspire for the party's candidacy for the post of mayor of Biratnagar sub-metropolitan city.

They have been announcing their candidacies at formal programs. Secretary of Nepali Congress, Morang, Nagesh Koirala has been lobbying for his own candidacy for Biratnagar mayor.

Another local leader of the party, Bhim Parajuli is also in the race for the candidacy for the post.

Similarly, Fulkumar Lalwani from the Madwari community is another competitor for the post of mayor.

Apart from them, Bishwanath Rijal, Manoj Basnet, Raju Thapa, Arun Gupta and Mridula Koirala have also announced their candidacy for the mayor of the sub-metropolitan city. 

“It is very exciting to see all this. It is natural that there are many aspirants for the post of mayor from the Nepali Congress as it is the oldest party. “There are many aspirants for the post of mayor in other parties too,” noted Dig Bahadur Limbu, president of Nepali Congress, Morang. 

From the CPN (Maoist Center), three local leaders - Sagar Thapa, Mahesh Regmi and Baburam Karki - have announced their candidacy for the post of mayor.

Similarly, there are several aspirants for the post of mayor in the CPN - UML as well. 

 
• local elections
 
• election fever
 
• fierce competition
 
• candidacy