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500 quit Nepal election race

Kathmandu: With Maoists threatening to take severe action against those contesting the February 8 local body polls in Nepal, some 500 candidates, including 50 from the capital Kathmandu, have withdrawn their nominations.

A total of 3,654 candidates had filed nomination papers for 4,146 seats in 58 Municipalities across Nepal. Out of which, some 500 have withdrawn their candidature, media reports here said on Sunday.

The seven-party Opposition alliance has already announced it would boycott the election, alleging that it was a ``drama'' aimed at ``legitimising the autocratic rule'' of King Gyanendra.

Some candidates told Nepals's private television that they were forced to file nominations and others claimed that they were unaware of their candidature.

The Government has put many candidates under army security following Maoists' threat to take severe action against them.

Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala, meanwhile, appealed to civil servants to keep themselves away from the election process.

All national parties have decided to boycott the polls. — PTI

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