Six Former Chairmen of Maoist-Affiliated Student Wing Contest Upcoming Federal Elections

Kathmandu. Six former chairmen of the All Nepal National Free Students Union (Revolutionary) (ANNFSU-R), affiliated with the former CPN (Maoist Centre), are contesting the upcoming House of Representatives elections scheduled for Falgun 21.

Those in the contest include Devendra Paudel, Krishnadhoj Khadka, Lekhnath Neupane, Himal Sharma, Ramesh Malla, and Ranjit Tamang. Compared to the past, CPN (Unified) appears to have prioritized student leaders by fielding strong candidates this time. CPN (Unified) was formed on Kartik 19 by merging with 10 other components, including the CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN (Unified Socialist).

Considering the volatile situation following the 'Jyanji' rebellion, the party seems to have prioritized youth and new faces in candidate selection. With a surge in support for new alternative parties over traditional political entities, student leaders face significant challenges in securing victories.

The former CPN (Maoist Centre), which previously allied with Congress or UML at different times, has transformed into CPN (Unified) after merging with various parties and is now entering the electoral arena alone. Except for an electoral understanding with the Rastriya Janamorcha in Baglung-1, CPN (Unified) has fielded candidates in 164 constituencies. Among these, Paudel is contesting in Nawalparasi-2, Khadka in Pyuthan-1, Neupane in Gorkha-2, Sharma in Kathmandu-6, Malla in Salyan-1, and Tamang in Jhapa-5.

• Devendra Paudel

Paudel, who was elected coordinator of ANNFSU (Revolutionary) in the 11th general convention in 2047 BS, became its chairman after five different student organizations merged in 2048 BS. A former secretary of the former Maoist party, Paudel is an influential leader in CPN (Unified).

He was elected as a member of the House of Representatives from Baglung-2 in the 2079 BS elections. A former Minister of Education, he is considered an eloquent speaker and a studious leader. Active in leftist politics since 2036 BS, Paudel served as a political advisor to then-Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai in 2068 BS.

In 2074 BS, he was elected from Baglung-2 and became the Minister of Education, Science and Technology. Paudel was the deputy chief of the school department in the then-CPN formed by the merger of UML and Maoist Centre. This time, leaving his former constituency, he is contesting from Nawalparasi-2.

He faces challenges from Congress's Bhim Bahadur Thapa, UML's Lekhnath Kharel, RASP's Narendra Kumar Gumta, RPP's Dhruv Bahadur Pradhan, and JSP Nepal's Devendra Yadav. Pradhan was the winner from the same constituency in the previous election.

Pradhan won by securing 34,764 votes, while the closest competitor, Congress's Devendraraj Kandel, received 19,594 votes. UML's Dipendra Kumar Adhikari secured 14,502 votes, and RASP's Madanlal Paudel got 5,531 votes. This constituency is considered an RPP stronghold.

In the proportional representation category in the last election, RPP received 18,035 votes. Congress got 15,625, RASP 10,677, UML 10,671, JSP Nepal 6,417, LSPT Nepal 6,316, NSP 5,950, Janmat Party 4,962, while Maoist received 2,840 votes. The then-Unified Socialist received only 245 votes in this constituency.

With the merger of JSP Nepal and LSPT this time, the challenge for Paudel has increased. He stated that preparations are underway to secure victory amidst these challenges.

'This time, we have started preparations to break the RPP stronghold. The votes here are fragmented. We are trying to secure a win by overcoming the challenges,' Paudel told Ratopati.  

• Krishnadhoj Khadka

Khadka, elected chairman in the 13th general convention in Baishakh 2052 BS, is contesting the House of Representatives election for the first time. He intended to contest from Pyuthan in 2079 BS but withdrew after his wife, Rekha Sharma, secured the ticket. Sharma gained prominence by defeating UML's General Secretary Shankar Pokharel from Dang-2. Prachanda made Sharma the Minister of Communications. After Sharma announced she would not contest this time, the party gave the ticket to Khadka from Pyuthan-1.

Khadka was elected as the student organization's chairman for the second time in the 14th general convention in 2054 BS while he was in jail. He held talks with Prachanda, King Birendra, then-Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, then-UML General Secretary Madhav Nepal, and leader Bamdev Gautam to bring the Maoists into the peace process.

Active in leftist student politics since 2035 BS, Khadka campaigned for multi-party democracy during the referendum in 2036 BS. He was jailed by security forces while active in the mass movement of 2046 BS. Khadka played an active role as a representative of Chairman Prachanda from 2051-2058 BS. The Maoists entered peace talks twice due to his initiatives. After the second peace talk collapsed, he was held in military custody from 2058-2059 BS and subsequently disappeared. Khadka states that he suffered rib and lower back fractures due to severe torture in custody. He mentions that rods and wires are still placed in his arms and legs.

'I have contested with the aim of connecting the sentiments of the old and new generations. I have worked day and night for the rights and interests of the people of Pyuthan. I am confident that the general voters will grant me a massive victory this time,' he said.

Khadka was elected as a Provincial Assembly member from Pyuthan in 2074 BS. He has experience working as the Provincial Minister for Economic Affairs.

In the 2079 BS election, UML's Suryabahadur Thapa Chhetri won from this constituency. This time, he is striving to protect his legacy. UML nominated Thapa Chhetri based on the results of the previous election.

In the last election, UML's Thapa Chhetri won by securing 41,118 votes. His closest competitor, Rastriya Janamorcha's Durga Poudel, received 35,814 votes. At that time, Janamorcha was supported by Congress and Maoists. RASP's Krishnaprasad Pokharel received 3,318 votes.

This time, Congress's Dr. Govinda Pokharel is the candidate, and RASP has put forward Sushant Baidya. In the proportional representation category, UML received 33,804 votes in the last election. Congress got 17,851, Maoist 13,303, Rastriya Janamorcha 9,959, and RASP 5,851 votes.

• Lekhnath Neupane

Former ANNFSU (Revolutionary) Chairman Lekhnath Neupane, who faced significant marginalization within the party, has found justice this time. He was consistently deprived of a House of Representatives ticket due to the repeated nomination of senior leaders. He is considered a leader who, despite having capability, never received opportunities within the party.

This time, CPN (Unified) has nominated Neupane from Gorkha-2. Former Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai was elected from this constituency from 2064 BS to 2070 BS. In 2074 BS, Narayan Kaji Shrestha contested from the same constituency, but Bhattarai, then chairman of Naya Shakti Nepal, who had an electoral understanding with Congress, won. In 2079 BS, Prachanda himself contested from this constituency after convincing Baburam. After being elected, Prachanda led the government for 18 months.

This time too, Neupane was almost forced to withdraw his candidacy. Bhattarai, the patron of the Progressive Democratic Party, had filed his candidacy under party pressure, but as the political atmosphere was not in his favor, Bhattarai met Prachanda on the morning of Magh 9 and requested him to arrange for Neupane's withdrawal. Realizing that discussions about withdrawing his candidacy were taking place with Prachanda, Neupane switched off his mobile phone and remained unavailable.

Prachanda had also discussed the withdrawal of candidacy with leaders including Hitraj Pandey from the district. After district leaders and cadres stood in support of Neupane, Bhattarai withdrew his candidacy. District leaders say that the atmosphere has been building in Neupane's favor following his withdrawal. Neupane himself expresses confidence in receiving support as he filed his candidacy on Bhattarai's advice.

'I filed my candidacy on Baburam's advice. I am confident that even if he withdraws his candidacy, the support will be for me. I am confident of receiving support from all sides this time,' he said.

After Bhattarai exited the electoral field, the competitors here include UML's Milan Gurung alias Chakre Milan, RASP's General Secretary Kabindra Burlakoti, and Congress's Prakash Chandra Dwadi. RASP candidate Burlakoti expressed confidence in receiving support from the Progressive Democratic Party (PrLoPa) as they urged Bhattarai to leave the field.

In the previous election, Prachanda won from here with 26,109 votes. His closest competitor, RASP's Burlakoti, received 12,639 votes. UML's Abdus Salam Mia secured 7,395 votes. At that time, Congress supported the Maoists. Since parties are contesting alone this time, an interesting competition is anticipated in this constituency. Gorkha-2 is known as a Maoist stronghold.

In the last election, Maoists received 19,000 votes in the proportional representation category from this constituency. Congress got 11,882, RASP 8,999, while UML received 6,185 votes.

Neupane, known as an intellectual and studious leader, is popular among all for his clear ideology, principles, and simple lifestyle. Born in Shiran Chowk Rural Municipality-3, Gorkha, he is a leader born from the struggle against illiteracy and poverty. He completed his secondary education at the local Janata Secondary School and came to Kathmandu for higher education due to his family's financial situation. Amidst struggles, Neupane completed his higher education from Tribhuvan University.

He became active in leftist student politics while studying in school, serving as Campus Unit Chairman, Kathmandu District Chairman, and then became a Central Committee member of ANNFSU (Revolutionary) before the start of the People's War in 2052 BS. While in jail in 2054 BS, he was elected Central Treasurer, Vice-Chairman in 2056 BS, and Chairman in 2060 BS. Neupane served as Chairman twice from 2060 to 2067 BS.

When the party split in 2069 BS, he joined the Mohan Baidya 'Kiran' faction. He returned to the original party in 2072 BS and received the responsibility of Secretariat Member. He assumed the responsibility of a Central Committee member of CPN (Unified) in 2075 BS.

Towards the end of the Panchayat era, a warrant was issued against him under the name of 'anti-national elements' while he was still in school. Neupane became the first Maoist cadre arrested from the Kathmandu Valley after the People's War began. At that time, he spent 6 months in jail because he could not post a bail of 28,000 rupees.

He spent four consecutive years in jail from 2054 to 2058 BS, facing six different cases. He was released in 2058 BS during the first round of talks with the state. The then-government had announced a reward of 2.5 million rupees for anyone who could bring Neupane's head.

In 2054 BS, his left ear was ruptured due to torture in custody, and he was injured in an internal accident in 2059 BS.

Neupane is equally active in study and writing as he is in politics. He has created literature, articles, and compositions such as 'Pen,' 'Educational Strike,' 'ANNISU Gyan,' 'You Became Immortal,' 'Education and Politics,' 'People's War in Letters,' 'Debate on Restructuring Education,' 'Twenty-two Years in Student Movement,' 'Chorus in Coma,' and 'History of Struggle.'

He has also published over a dozen works, including 'Voice from Prison,' 'Creations from Behind Walls,' 'Eternal Signatures,' 'Prachanda: Education and Politics,' and 'Rajendra Dhakal: Memory and Respect.'

• Himal Sharma

Himal Sharma, a former chairman of ANNFSU (Revolutionary) who was famous as a 'living martyr' during the Maoist insurgency, is contesting from Kathmandu-6. He was elected chairman of ANNFSU (Revolutionary) in the 18th general convention held in Mangsir 2067 BS.

Active in the leftist movement since his adolescence, he was jailed for the first time in 2043 BS. He spent about 10 years in jail intermittently between 2048 BS and 2063 BS.

During the Maoist insurgency, he was kept in jail for 27 months at the Bhairavnath Battalion Shivapuri Barracks, blindfolded and with his hands and feet tied. Sharma, who was the faction in-charge of the then-Maoist-affiliated ANNFSU (Revolutionary), contested from the same constituency in 2070 BS. At that time, he received 5,945 votes. Congress's Bhimsendas Pradhan won, while UML's Yogesh Bhattarai was in second place. Contesting the elections again after 12 years, he claims this time he will 'break the record.'

'The atmosphere is better this time compared to before. We have prepared to break the record,' he said.

In the 2079 BS election, RASP's Shishir Khanal won from this constituency with 14,221 votes. Sharma's closest competitor, UML's Sarbendra Khanal, received 8,917 votes. Congress's Bhimsendas Pradhan got 8,812 votes. In the previous election, Maoists supported Congress here.

In the proportional representation category, RASP received 11,996 votes, UML 8,019, Congress 7,577, while Maoist received 1,802 votes. This time, Sharma is challenged by the previous winner, RASP's Khanal. Congress has fielded Krishna Baniya Chhetri, UML Aman Kumar Maske, and RPP Uddhavraj Bhetwal.

• Ramesh Malla

Malla, elected chairman of ANNFSU (Revolutionary) in the 19th general convention in 2070 BS, is the CPN (Unified) candidate from Salyan-1.

Malla, who served as Prachanda's chief personal secretary from Kartik 2078 BS to Magh 2081 BS, secured the ticket after considerable internal struggle. Malla played a supportive role during Prachanda's last 18-month tenure as Prime Minister.

In this constituency, the previous election winner Prakash Jwala had claimed the candidacy. In Salyan, a Maoist stronghold, Malla was ultimately given the ticket following a decision by Coordinator Prachanda and Co-coordinator Madhav Nepal.

UML has nominated Gulabjung Shah, a staunch opponent of Jwala, as the candidate in this constituency. Congress has nominated Kesha Bahadur Bista. RASP has put forward Lalit Kumar Chand. There is discussion that the alliance between UML and the Progressive Democratic Party (PrLoPa), which split from Maoist, might have some impact. However, Malla asserts that the understanding between UML and PrLoPa will have no effect. 'PrLoPa has no organization here. Our popular support is strong. The alliance will not have any impact,' he said.

In the 2079 BS election, Jwala won from this constituency with 35,707 votes. His closest competitor, independent candidate Rajendra Bahadur Shah, received 19,792 votes. Rajendra Bir Ray came third with 13,039 votes. RASP's Pawanraj Devkota received 3,695 votes.

In the proportional representation category in the last election, UML received 22,256 votes. Maoist, which was in second place, received 21,325 votes. Congress got 19,966 votes, while the Unified Socialist received 5,970 votes. RASP received 4,922 votes here.

• Ranjit Tamang

Ranjit Tamang, another former chairman of ANNFSU (Revolutionary), is contesting from Jhapa-5 this time. Tamang faces a significant challenge in securing victory as he is contesting from the stronghold of former Prime Minister and UML Chairman KP Oli. Former Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Balen Shah, is contesting from RASP in the same constituency. Tamang is overshadowed by the presence of two 'heavyweight' candidates. Attention is focused on Jhapa-5 due to Balen contesting against Oli, who lost power following the 'Jyanji' rebellion.

UML has put forward Oli as the future Prime Minister, while RASP is backing Balen. Oli has won all elections from this constituency except the 2064 BS election. However, Tamang asserts that he will win amidst the challenge posed by the clash between two famous competitors.

'We defeated Oli in 2064 BS. Although there is much discussion outside about the candidacies of Oli and Balen, the reality on the ground is different. I am confident of securing a win amidst the challenges,' he said.

In this constituency, Congress has fielded Mandira Chimariya, RPP Laxmi Prasad Sangraula, and the Shram Sanskriti Party Samir Tamang. Tamang, born on Magh 19, 2039 BS, in Kamal Rural Municipality-1, was elected chairman of the student organization in the 21st general convention held in Bhadra 2074 BS. He is the first chairman elected through an internal competition. Voting took place after consensus could not be reached for a unanimous leadership selection.

Tamang started his primary education at the nearby Shree Bansbari Lower Secondary School and completed his SLC from Shree Mahendra Ratwa Secondary School in then-Topgachhi-2. He completed his IA from Mahendra Morang College, Biratnagar, his Bachelor's degree from Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus on Pradarshani Marg, Kathmandu, and his Master's in Political Science from Tribhuvan University.

Active in politics since his school days, he joined the ANNFSU (Revolutionary) affiliated with the then-CPN (Maoist Centre). He served as Regional Member, District Member, Jhapa District Chairman, Central Member, and finally became the first elected Chairman of the ANNFSU Central Committee in 2074 BS. He is popular among all due to his clear ideology. He succeeded in giving a new direction to the student movement during his tenure and led street protests. Currently a Central Committee member of the CPN (Unified), he is active as the Jhapa District In-charge.

During the crisis period of 2058 BS, he was arrested and remained in jail for about two years. Advocating for political, economic, social, and cultural transformation, he remains steadfast for the rights and social justice of oppressed communities. He holds the transformative view that the youth generation must join hands to modernize the indigenous production system for a self-reliant economy, aiming for education, health, employment, and prosperity.