Unidentified gunmen shot and injured a mayoral candidate for the Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City in Manbhawan, Lalitpur, Monday afternoon.

Dal Bahadur Rai, a candidate for the post of mayor of the Lalitpur Sub-metro representing the Jana Mukti Party, was shot at around 2:30 p.m., an official at the District Police Office of Lalitpur told Nepalnews.

The comatose victim is undergoing treatment at the Patan Hospital, police said.

Two gunmen who came on a motorbike shot Rai when he was sitting on the verandah of his residence in Manbhawan. The assailants then ran away towards Lagankhel.

Security forces have been mobilized in Manbhawan and surrounding areas to track down the gunmen, the police official said but added that identifying the persons would be difficult because the number plate of the bike was not known.

Police suspect the Maoists to be behind the murder attempt of the election candidate.

The candidates filing their nominations for municipal polls started their campaign from today. In Lalitpur, all candidates have agreed to campaign together in view of the security situation. The government has promised security to the candidates during the election campaign. The Election Commission had announced Rs 700,000 insurance for polls candidates.

Maoists shot dead a prospective mayoral candidate and member of Nepal Sadbhawana Party Bijay Lal Das in Janakpur last Sunday.