Koshi Province Election Field Features Mix of Veteran Leaders and Young Contenders Amidst 495 Candidates

Biratnagar. While new and younger generations are being discussed for the upcoming House of Representatives election on Falgun 21, the activism of experienced and older leaders is equally visible in Koshi Province.

According to the final voter list published by the Election Commission, 13 candidates aged 70 or above are in the electoral arena in Koshi Province.

Some of these have served as the country's Prime Minister, while others remain active in their 80s to protect their party's ideology. In this election, Hiranya Prasad Bhattarai stands out as the oldest candidate in Koshi Province at 83. Bhattarai is contesting from Jhapa Constituency No. 1 on behalf of the Nepal Workers' and Peasants' Party. Similarly, 80-year-old Sher Bahadur Khatri from Okhaldhunga-1, representing the Rastriya Janamorcha, is also in the fray.

Many influential candidates in Koshi Province who hold top positions in national politics are in the 70-year age bracket. Dr. Shekhar Koirala, an influential leader of the Nepali Congress, is contesting from Morang-6; he is 75 years old.

Likewise, K.P. Sharma Oli, the 74-year-old Chairman of CPN (UML) and former Prime Minister, is contesting from Jhapa-5. Vijay Kumar Gachhadar, a 72-year-old leader of the Nepali Congress, is competing again from Sunsari-3.

Furthermore, Man Bahadur Pulami Magar, who filed his candidacy from Jhapa-2 for the Nepal Janamukti Party, is 75 years old. Bal Krishna Thapa, 73, is contesting from Bhojpur-1 on behalf of the Nepali Congress. Prem Prasad Bhattarai, 72, from RPP is contesting from Sunsari-4, while Harsalal Rajbanshi, set to fight from Jhapa-3 for the Janmat Party, is 71 years old.

Keshar Singh Rai is a candidate from Sankhuwasabha for the Nepal Janamukti Party. Purnabahadur Waiba Tamang, contesting from Morang-1 for the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, has reached 72. Chandra Bir Rai is a candidate from Morang-2 for the Nepali Communist Party, and Ganga Prasad Giri, contesting from Morang-5 for CPN (Maoist Centre), has turned 70.

A total of 495 candidates have entered the electoral race across various constituencies in the province. Not only the older generation, but young candidates aged 25 are also competing in this election. Twenty-five-year-old Shalikram Rai is a candidate for the House of Representatives from Morang-4, and 25-year-old Ganga Kumari Rajbanshi is a candidate from Morang-5. These young individuals are campaigning on the agenda that the older generation should step aside and the new generation should take leadership; they are independent candidates.

Nisha Dangi, a candidate from Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) for Jhapa-1, is 29 years old. Similarly, Surendra Karki from Tehrathum, also from RSP, is 28 years old.

Although the constitution guarantees 33 percent female participation in every state body, the number of female candidates in direct elections appears quite low. Looking at the list of 495 candidates, the number of women is countable on fingers.

A few limited women, such as Jwala Nepal from Ilam-1, Sarita Prasai from Jhapa-2, Nisha Dangi from Jhapa-1, Mamata Yadav from Morang-5, and Asha Jha, have dared to compete directly against men. This list clearly shows that major parties are still hesitant to field women as candidates in direct elections. It appears that the practice of most parties limiting women to the proportional representation list hinders the development of female leadership in direct elections.

In Koshi Province, where traditional parties like the Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) dominate, new forces such as the Nepali Communist Party, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Shram Sanskriti Party, Janmat Party, and Nagarik Unmukti Party have fielded candidates.

RSP has fielded candidates in almost all constituencies in Koshi. Similarly, the Terai-Madhesh-centric Janmat Party and Harka Sampang's Shram Sanskriti Party have mobilized their candidates. Beyond these, there are candidates with election symbols such as a clay pot, flute, water tap, scissors, rabbit, stool, lantern, guitar, and wooden stool.

The list of candidates clearly reflects the multi-ethnic and multilingual composition of Koshi Province. While there is a predominance of Limbu community competitors in Taplejung and Panchthar, the strong representation of Rajbanshi, Tharu, Madhesi, and Musahar communities is evident in Morang and Sunsari. The Rai and Limbu communities show a leading role in the hill districts, while candidates from the Koch and Madhesi communities assert their claims in the Terai districts.

Only One Candidate Each from Nine Small Parties

The number of independent candidates is large across the 28 constituencies in the 14 districts of Koshi Province. Out of the total 495, 91 are independent, which accounts for about 18.4 percent of the total. Not only major parties are contesting in all constituencies of Koshi Province; there are 9 parties that have fielded only one candidate across Koshi. For these parties, this election only serves to demonstrate survival and presence.

The list of parties fielding the fewest candidates, with only 1 candidate across the entire province, includes Rastriya Janamukti Party, Rastriya Sadbhavana Party, National Republic Nepal, Jai Matribhumi Party, Rastriya Sajha Party, Nepal Loktantrik Party, Nepal Janata Party, Nagarik Sarvachhata Party Nepal, and Nepal Janata Dal.

Rastriya Janamukti Party has put forward Pabitra Limbu Tumbahaphe from Ilam-2. Similarly, Rastriya Sadbhavana Party has fielded Olin Rajbanshi from Jhapa-1.

Jayean Magar from National Republic Nepal is contesting from Jhapa-3, Nabraj Maske from Jai Matribhumi Party from Morang-3, Bhupi Rai from Rastriya Sajha Party from Sunsari-1, Nunuram Chaudhary from Nepal Loktantrik Party from Sunsari-2, Ramesh Kumar Sah from Nepal Janata Party from Sunsari-4, Prashant Kumar Rai from Nagarik Sarvachhata Party Nepal from Udayapur-1, and Kusheshwar Chaudhary from Nepal Janata Dal from Udayapur-1 are the candidates.