CPN-UML candidate Khanda Lama has withdrawn her nomination from province “kha” constituency to support independent candidate Rajiv Gurung aka Deepak Manange.

Chief Election Officer of Manang and district Judge Deepak Dhakal confirmed that Lama had withdrawn her nomination.

She reached Chief Election Officer’s office at around 1 pm today and withdrew her nomination.

Manange, a CPN-UML cadre, had filed his nomination as independent candidate for upcoming election from Manang district on October 22 following UML central committee’s refusal to provide election ticket to him despite the district committee’s unanimous decision to pick him as the party candidate.

He claimed that his victory is obvious as Lama’s supporters had promised him to help in the elections. Lama and Manange are brother and sister in relationship.

After Lama withdrew her nomination, there will be a tough competition between Manange and Karma Gurung, a Nepali Congress Candidate.

Manange had recently joined UML.