NCP Kaski picks Adhikari’s widow as by-poll candidate

Pokhara / Oct 26: The Kaski District chapter of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has recommended Bidhya Bhattarai, widow of the late tourism minister Rabindra Adhikari, as the party’s candidate for the upcoming by-election in Kaski Constituency-2.

A meeting of the NCP Kaski District Committee on Friday unanimously decided to recommend Bhattarai as the candidate for the by-election scheduled for November 30. The meeting endorsed the proposal by Raj Kaji Gurung ‘Kiran’ to field Bhattarai as its candidate for the by-election.

Earlier, the NCP was preparing to field party Vice-Chariman Bamdev Gautam as its candidate. NCP Chairpersons KP Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal had also proposed Gautam’s name. But Gautam himself declined, saying a local should get priority.

The parliamentary constituency fell vacant after then tourism minister Adhikari was killed in a helicopter crash in Taplejung back in February. Adhikari had won the constituency three times.