Karnali, Sudurpaschim gear up for polls

By Our Correspondents,Baitadi/ Kalikot/Jumla/ Rukum/      Surkhet, Jan. 24: With the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) election scheduled for March 5, candidates across Nepal have begun intensive campaigns, reaching voters at the local level to secure support. 

In Baitadi, candidates from the three major parties, Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML and Nepali Communist Party (NCP), have started visiting villages to secure voter support.

According to our Baitadi correspondent Gokarna Dayal, 12 candidates have filed nominations in Baitadi’s single federal constituency, including 10 from political parties and two independent candidates.

Key contenders are Damodar Bhandari of UML, Chatur Bahadur Chand of NC, Paramananda Bhatt of NCP, Bhupendra Chand of RPP, and Harimohan Bhandari of RSP. 

Other nominees include Anasingh Bhandari of Janata Samajwadi, Gajendra Raj Pandey of Shram Sanskriti Party, Nawaraj Koirala of Nepal Workers Peasants Party, Ram Bahadur Kunwar NCP, Bisan Singh Bohara of Aam Janata Party, as well as independent candidates Tej Bahadur Chand and Jay Prakash Pant.

In the last local elections for 10 municipalities and 84 wards, the NC and UML each won in 34 wards, while the former Maoist Centre won in 13 wards.

After the recent merger, the NCP is now considered strong in Purchaudi, Patan, Pancheshwar, Shivanath, and Surnaya municipalities. Candidate Paramananda Bhatta says the merger has created a robust organisation.

Three-time winner Damodar Bhandari expects a fourth victory, citing strong party support, while NC’s Chand says Congress is now well-positioned to reclaim votes previously lost due to alliances. 

RPP’s Bhupendra Chand, son of former Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand, says political developments may influence results and RSP’s Harimohan Bhandari, a former independent runner-up, is confident of repeating his past performance.

In the last provincial assembly polls, UML’s Surendra Bahadur Pal and NC’s Shivaraj Bhatta won constituencies (A) and (B), respectively. 

Harimohan Bhandari, who comes from the same area, is expected to split votes in constituency (A).

Likewise, in Kalikot, due to internal disputes within the NC, youth leader Bhupendra Jung Shahi has registered as an rebel candidate for the upcoming HoR poll. 

According to our Kalikot correspondent Premraj Simkhada, the party had planned to give him the official ticket in Kalikot’s sole constituency, but due to internal disputes of the party, Harsh Bahadur Bam got the ticket.

Shahi’s supporters submitted his nomination on his behalf, despite him being in Kathmandu, and local NC leaders are now divided into two factions. Social activist and NC leader Bhim Bahadur Shahi has openly sided with the rebel candidate. Many youth working in various party organisations have also campaigned for Shahi, angered that Gagan Thapa did not award him the ticket.

Bhupendra Jung Shahi, contesting his third parliamentary election, has previously lost narrowly in 2013 and 2017 due to internal party issues and alliances of rival parties. 

This time, he is considered a strong contender, with both opposition voters and some UML supporters openly backing him. 

Shahi has stated he will not step back and will accept defeat only if he loses.

Sensitive polling stations

Karnali Province has a higher number of sensitive polling stations than usual, according to police data. 

Out of 941 polling sites across 10 districts, 420 are classified as sensitive and 359 as highly sensitive, while only 162 are considered normal. There are 18 temporary polling stations in the province. 

Our Surkhet Correspondent Lalit Basel writes, Karnali Police report stated that out of 1,437 polling centres, 659 are sensitive, 441 highly sensitive, and 301 normal. Security for the elections will include 4,976 police personnel and 9,743 election police.

Polling sites are classified as normal, sensitive or highly sensitive based on accessibility, candidate presence, social media activity and past security concerns.Heavyweight candidates and areas with high social media activity are marked sensitive.

Despite some security challenges, including 25 fugitives still at large and weapons stolen during the Gen Z movement, the police administration has been working to conduct the election peacefully. Monitoring teams will also oversee social media to prevent misinformation.

DIG Madhav Prasad Shrestha appealed to political parties, civil society, and the public to cooperate and ensure a safe and peaceful election, citing that Karnali’s remote geography may slow police response.

Good governance, prosperity 

According to our Rukum West correspondent, Raju Lamichhane, candidates who are contesting in the upcoming HoR poll, have pledged to prioritise good governance, development, and a corruption-free society.

NC candidate Raju KC said his candidacy aims to address public demand for transformation and prosperity, reduce corruption, and promote self-employment and economic empowerment.

UML’s Nandaram Devkota emphasised curbing revenue leaks and corruption, ending social, caste, and regional discrimination and fostering prosperity.

Likewise, NCP candidate Gopal Sharma promised to preserve the district’s communist heritage while accelerating development and promoting economic growth and employment.

Former minister Janardan Sharma, representing Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party, said he is contesting to complete unfinished development projects in infrastructure, education, health, communication, and social justice.

Other candidates, including RSP’s Man Bahadur Shahi, CPN (Maoist)’s Chandra Budha and Ujyaalo Nepal Party’s Narendra KC, also highlighted good governance, social justice, and sustainable development as their key agendas.

Campaigns 

With the HoR election approaching, the political atmosphere in Jumla is heating up. 

According to our Jumla correspondent Naurate Nepali, candidates from various parties and independent candidates are actively campaigning, visiting villages and engaging directly with voters.

Key candidates include Deep Bahadur Shahi of NC, Shantilal Mahat of UML Naresh Bhandari of NCP, Gyan Bahadur Shahi RSP, Binita Kathayat of RSP, Manrishi Dhital of Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party, Birsa Rawat of Nepal Workers Peasants Party, Birsa Bahadur Shahi of CPN (Maoist), and Ranil Bikram Shahi Nepal Janata Party.

Candidates are conducting electoral campaigning through public meetings, rallies and door-to-door visits. They have been making pledges to give priority to local issues such as development, employment, education, health, roads and agriculture. Whereas independent candidates, including Bhakta Bahadur Rawal from Tatopani–3, are also campaigning on a promise to work above party lines for the public benefit.

Political parties are mobilising their networks to coordinate election strategy, with CPN-UML forming a district-level election committee under Devilal Thapa to manage voter outreach, publicity, and logistics. 

With campaigns in full swing, competition is intensifying, and voters are closely assessing candidates’ agendas, their past work, and future plans.

Meanwhile, the Jumla administration has begun collecting all licensed firearms and ammunition within the district to ensure a safe and peaceful election.

Following directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the District Security Committee, all registered weapons must be submitted to the nearest police station by February 3. 

Collected arms will be returned to owners after the election, on April 3, upon verification.

Authorities warned that failure to comply, or possession of illegal weapons, will result in strict legal action. Police and administration have deployed special monitoring teams, urging political parties, candidates, and citizens to cooperate for a fear-free, orderly election.

Election buzz in Jajarkot

Political activity in Jajarkot has intensified following the candidacy nomination process. 

Parties are busy finalising strategies and mobilising leaders and supporters to ensure victory for their candidates, our Jajarkot correspondent Basudev Sharma writes. 

After registering nominations at the chief election office, leaders from 11 parties, including NC, CPN-UML, and NCP, have begun planning electoral campaigns. 

The three major parties, which contested previous elections in alliances, are now competing separately.

UML’s district executive chair, Bishwa Bikram Shah, said leaders and workers are conducting door-to-door campaigns to strengthen their position, while NC secretary Tej Bikram Shah described the election as a matter of prestige for NC.  Prominent candidates include Shakti Bahadur Basnet of NCP, Dambar Bahadur Singh of UML, and young leader Khadak Bahadur Budha of NC. 

Following the publication of the final nomination list, parties have pledged to campaign publicly while adhering to the code of conduct while ensuring proper election oversight and monitoring.

Villages across the district are now lively with electoral campaign. Jajarkot, with over 107,000 voters, is expected to witness a three-way contest among major party candidates.