The main opposition CPN-UML has expressed serious concerns over the growing incidents of attacks and threats to the elections candidates running for the upcoming parliamentary and provincial elections. The party has urged the government to take immediate steps to ensure security of the candidates.

In a statement issued by party’s Central Election Mobilisation Committee on Wednesday, the party stated that a group of unidentified persons had hurled a bomb at the vehicle of former minister and UML candidate for the upcoming provincial polls from Bhojpur-1 Sher Dhan Rai on Tuesday while the candidate from Sunsari-3 and central member Bhagawati Chaudhari's family members have been threatened.  The UML has also accused the government of protecting the perpetrators.

“We have been receiving information that the government and the Nepali Congress are carrying out violent activities after they got frightened with the excitement of people across the country following the formation of left alliance,” read the statement.

“Police administration has informed us that there is security threat over the party’s standing committee member Satya Narayan Mandal, but the government is reluctant to provide him body guard,” the statement further read.

The government’s silence has raised a serious question as to whether the government itself is the mastermind of these incidents of attacks and threats by forming an anonymous party to claim responsibility for these attacks aimed at obstructing the election campaign, the statement claimed.

It also said the recent activities show that the government is inclined towards breaching the election code of conduct, spreading fear of transfers among government employees, and forming some 'unknown' party to attack the election candidates instead of focusing on conducting the elections in a free and fair environment.

“We urge government to immediately correct its activities,” he said.