Cadres of CPN-UML padlocked the party's office in Ilam on April 23, alleging that the party was about to nominate an individual who does not have a mass base as the mayoral candidate of Ilam municipality. The municipal committee had recommended Dhiren Chemjong, Krishna Shrestha, Narendra Nath Bhattarai and Shyam Krishna Ghimire for the mayoral post. After the news reached the municipal committee that Bhattarai's name was chosen as the official candidate; Committee chairperson Tilak Thakuri, vice-chairperson Dipendra Chapagain, secretary Thakur Narayan Shrestha, deputy secretaries Chitramaya Gurung and Narad Lamsal along with secretariat members, city members, some ward chairpersons and officials resigned. They also padlocked the party office at Ilam Bazar.