The Blue Diamond Society, an organisation fighting for the rights of sexual minorities, demanded that the government make provision to ensure LGBTIs' candidature in the local bodies' election.

The Society stressed on the need of having compulsory candidates from the LGBTI community for different posts in the VDCs, municipalities, sub-metropolis and district development committees through the bill to amend the Local Self Governance Act-2055 for local poll.

BDS representatives met with Executive Director of the Nepal Law Society, Krishna Man Pradhan, who is involved in preparing the draft of the bill, today and demanded provision in the bill to have LGBTIs' candidacy in the local bodies' election, saying there should be equal access of LGBTIs to local resources.

The bill has a provision requiring a woman candidate for ward member and vice-chairperson of the VDC, for vice-chairperson of the DDC, and for deputy Mayor of municipality, sub-metropolis and the metropolis.

Pradhan urged the Society to suggest the Ministry of Law to make provision for the representation of all sections of society in local bodies as per their population.

He expressed the view that a provision could be made in the bill for ensuring LGBTIs' candidacy in the local bodies.