Nepal's wrestler wants to be next Kofi!

Bharat Bahadur Bishural, who entered the WWF circuit in the 1990s, wants to join the race for the top post in the UN.

A maverick professional Nepali wrestler, who once vied for the prime minister's position, now wants to join the race for the top post in the UN!

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Bharat Bahadur Bishural, a former soldier-turned- wrestling pro who donned the ring name Himalayan Tiger when he entered the World Wrestling Federation circuit in the 1990s, now wants to grapple for the post of UN secretary general currently held by Kofi Annan.

The colourful 48-year-old, whose earlier posters show him clad in leopard skin and sporting long hair, has registered his application with the government and is urging the Girija Prasad Koirala regime to endorse his application.

Probably out of deference to the world body, he has now traded his unconventional leopard skin for a conservative dark suit, white shirt and tie, though the flowing locks remain with the addition of a goatee and dark glasses.

Till Bishural made his intention public, there were no bids from Nepal for one of the most prestigious jobs in the world.

The Nepali pro has a penchant for throwing his hat in the ring.

In 2003, when King Gyanendra asked for applications for the post of prime minister, Bishural was among the contenders that also included students and housewives.

However, his application was rejected by the king despite Bishural's shows of loyalty.

The strong man from Lamjung in northern Nepal has organised wrestling matches as tributes to the royal family on the occasion of the birthdays of the king and Crown Prince Paras.

After King Gyanendra seized power and declared local elections in February 2006, when over 90 per cent of the political parties stayed away from the controversial exercise — Bishural formed his Samyukta Janashakti Party to participate in the polls.

But in April, after the king was forced to surrender power, Bishural decided to mend fences with the democrats by contributing around Nepali Rs 5,000 to the welfare fund set up for the treatment of protesters injured during the anti-king demonstrations.

It was not known immediately why Bishural, who calls himself 'Bharat Bahadur Bishural', has decided to contest for the UN post.

His home page has been abandoned and old phone number, where he was available during the controversial February elections, discontinued.