Kathmandu, February 5
UML leaders are planning to shift the capital of Province 1 to Itahari from Biratnagar, a party source says.
The news comes designation of provincial capitals around the country has been marred in controversy. In Province 1, local residents of Itahari, Dharan and Dhankuta, in addition to Biratnagar, have been demanding that their city become the seat of the provincial government. Although the government recently designated Biratnagar as the ‘temporary capital’ of the province, the provincial assembly has constitutional right to decide on the issue.
According to the source, as the UML has majority in Province 1’s assembly, the party is likely to form the government on its own. The main contenders for Chief Minister are: Bhim Acharya, Sherdhan Rai and Jeevan Ghimire.
Acharya is a resident of Itahara and Rai is from Bhojpur. Sources say that both the leaders are not in favour of designating Biratnagar as the provincial capital. The source said, “We are looking at Itahari and its surrounding areas such as Goth Gaun, Pakali and Tarahara. If a ring-road could be built to connect these places, we can build the infrastructure needed for the provincial government.”
