Despite threats from Maoists and the call from seven political parties to socially boycott them, contestants for the mayoral posts in Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) and Lalitpur Sub-metropolitan City (LSMC) said they were unfazed by the rebel threats and risks in the run up to the municipal polls. Speaking at a programme in Kathmandu on Monday, they said, “We have not been intimidated by the rumours being spread by the seven agitating parties that everybody was set to boycott the elections, neither do we fear the Maoist threat to life.” Mayoral candidate of KMC Rajaram Shrestha said no one should bar people from exercising their right to vote. “When the country is burning, it is our duty to douse the fire and not resort to unending bickering,” he added. He further said the local bodies were not forums for engaging into petty politics but an important means to pursue local development and solve the problems faced by the local people. “Those who have faith in democracy and the people should go to the polls.” He said that he wanted to develop KMC into a tourist destination so as to generate employment opportunities for the youths. Adding to the list of his agenda, he disclosed that he would work to set up hospitals and colleges in Kathmandu where the employees of KMC will obtain quality health care services and education free of cost and the city dwellers would receive the same at low cost. Prachand Lal Shrestha, another mayoral candidate for KMC said he was vying for the polls to safeguard the fundamental rights of the people, which are enshrined in the constitution. The development of health and education progarmmes and reform in the municipal administration topped his poll agenda, he said. Prem Lal Maharjan, who is vying for the mayoral post in the LSMC, said that the local bodies should not remain vacant for a long time. He said that he has no fear and is living at his own residence. “I am determined to contest in the municipal elections, as it is an integral part of democracy,” Maharjan said, adding that people, however, do have the right to boycott elections if they wish to. Urmila Shrestha, who is contesting for mayor of Thimi Municipality, also expressed determination on vying for the post without any hesitation. “I am not interested in politics. I am contesting in the elections to serve the people,” Shrestha said. She further said that she was contesting the polls in order to give momentum to development works at the local level. Similarly, Madhu Shah, an independent candidate for the post of mayor in LSMC, said she had sought the cooperation from all in the poll as she had already served the society for more than two decades. “I will work for the welfare of the youths, women, the elderly and the needy,” she said SOURCE: Nepalnews.com