Old Parties Field New Candidates for Upcoming Elections in Khotang Amid Shifting Political Landscape

Kathmandu. Old parties have also chosen new candidates for the House of Representatives election scheduled for February 21 in Khotang. Particularly, parties such as the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) are fielding fresh faces in the election.

Fifteen individuals have registered their nominations to compete in the electoral field in this district, which has only one constituency.

Due to the 2079 election results and the changing political situation, even the established parties have put forward new individuals as competitors.

CPN-UML leader Bishal Bhattarai, who has been actively involved in Khotang politics for a long time, has stepped aside this time. UML has put forward the district chairman Dev Bikram Rai this time, stopping Bhattarai, who has contested elections continuously since 2056 BS.

UML claims victory based on the proportional representation votes from the previous election. In 2079 BS, UML secured the highest number of votes in the district under proportional representation, receiving 24,271 votes.

Similarly, the Nepali Congress, which could not field a candidate in the 2079 election due to the alliance, is putting forward new face and General Convention representative Bir Kaji Rai for competition this time. In the 2079 election here, Ram Kumar Rai of the Maoist Centre won, supported by the alliance between the Congress and the CPN (Maoist Centre). Congress is confident of securing victory this time if Bir Kaji's candidacy is accepted by all.

The CPN (Maoist Centre) has nominated renowned economist Dr. Hari Roka as its candidate. Roka has entered the electoral arena to amplify the voices of marginalized farmers. The participation of Roka, who has built a reputation as an intellectual personality and economic analyst, is expected to make the electoral competition in Khotang more interesting.

The candidacy of an individual who has been working with a plow and hoe in the village has become a topic of discussion among local farmers.

Growing Challenge from New Parties

The changing politics of the country and the growing support for the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), backed by the youth, and the newly registered Shram Sanskriti Party are anticipated to pose a stiff challenge to the old parties here. Rudra Giri is the candidate from RSP, and Aren Rai is the candidate from the Shram Sanskriti Party. Since Khotang is the birthplace of Hark Sampang, the central chairman of the Shram Sanskriti Party, it is believed that this party will receive expected votes here.

Furthermore, the Rastriya Paribartan Party, registered by Gen Z youth, has fielded 25-year-old Miresh Rai from the district. It is anticipated that Rai will receive substantial support as he is also the joint candidate for the Ujyalo Nepal Party, led by Kulman Ghising as the central chairman.

What was the result of the previous election?

In the 2079 election, Ram Kumar Rai of the CPN (Maoist Centre) won by securing 31,351 votes with the support of the alliance, while Bishal Bhattarai of CPN-UML was defeated, receiving 28,682 votes.

Among the 10 local levels in the district, Congress has the highest number of representatives, with two municipality chiefs, four rural municipality chiefs, and 32 ward chairpersons belonging to Congress. The two Provincial Assembly members are Parkarna Rai from UML and Bhupendra Rai from Congress.

In Khotang, there are 147,120 registered voters this time, comprising 77,656 male and 69,464 female voters.

In the district, 136 polling stations and 195 polling centers have been designated.