The government, which has taken a firm decision to hold the municipal elections although no citizen is willing to freely declare their candidacy, is on a manhunt for people willing to run for office. After officials began calling district offices in search of candidates, mandales (pro-monarchists) are in a state of fear. With increasing pressure from the government, VDC chairmen and vice-chairmen in Banke, Bardiya, Kailali, Dang and Kanchanpur have reportedly fled to India. Kamal Thapa and others who were brought into the government to ensure that there are candidates for the posts of mayor and vice mayor have been constantly pressuring them. After getting calls from ministers, secretaries, palace officials and people like Sachit Shamsher, their family members have refused to even give out their contact information. Many of the pro-monarchists who have been forced to give their names for candidacy have reportedly left instructions to their wives to ?run the household properly and buy a white sari?.