Prominent Leaders Absent from Election Field in Koshi Province, Creating Opportunities for New Faces

Biratnagar. Many influential leaders from Koshi Province, who have maintained a strong presence in parliamentary practice, including former prime ministers, former ministers, and top party officials, are absent from the electoral arena this time.

The absence of heavyweight candidates from Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and CPN (Maoist Centre) in all 14 districts of Koshi Province has provided opportunities for newcomers in this election. While some leaders have voluntarily taken a break, others have been pushed out of the electoral race due to internal party equations or disputes over ticket distribution.

There are no major political figures in the hilly districts like Taplejung and Panchthar this time. In Taplejung, influential leaders such as UML's Deputy Secretary-General and former minister Yogesh Bhattarai and former minister Tank Angbuhang did not make it onto the candidate list. The absence of a leader like Bhattarai, who holds influence in national politics, has elicited mixed reactions even among local cadres. Similarly, former Congress minister Pratap Prakash Hangam is not competing this time.

In Panchthar, the absence of former UML minister Basanta Nemwang and influential Congress leader Bhishma Raj Angdembe from the electoral field has altered the political balance there. Both leaders are known for having a strong grip at the center within their respective parties.

The situation in Ilam and Jhapa is even more interesting. Former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal not contesting from Ilam has garnered national attention. Along with him, veteran Congress leaders Dambar Bahadur Khadka and Benupraj Prasai, former UML MP Mahesh Basnet, and former Provincial Assembly member Dhirendra Sharma are not candidates this time.

In Jhapa, the absence of Nepali Congress Vice President Bishwa Prakash Sharma has surprised many. Established leaders from Jhapa, including Congress's Indra Budhathoki and Dr. Khagendra Adhikari, and UML's former minister Agni Kharel, Deepak Karki, and Rabin Koirala, are not in the electoral competition this time. Stalwarts like Purnasingh Rajbanshi and former minister Jhalak Singh Darlami from the CPN (Maoist Centre) are also out of the field.

Old faces are missing in the election atmosphere of Sankhuwasabha, Tehrathum, and Dhankuta as well. In Sankhuwasabha, former UML MP Rajendra Gautam, former minister Tulsi Neupane, and former MP Parshumeghi Gurung are not in the competition, while Congress's Taramana Gurung is also out. In Tehrathum, the absence of former minister Sita Gurung from Congress and intellectual leaders like former minister Bhawani Khapung and Vijay Subba from UML is noticeable. In Dhankuta, independent Constituent Assembly member Hemraj Bhandari, who has Maoist background, is also out of the electoral field.

In Bhojpur too, leaders like former MP Ghanendra Basnet of CPN (Unified), Kripasur Sherpa of UML, and Umeshjung Rayamajhi of Congress will not be seen as candidates campaigning door-to-door this time.

In Morang and Sunsari, the largest political centers of Koshi Province, there is a long line of influential leaders outside the electoral arena. In Morang, former Deputy Prime Minister and Congress leader Sujata Koirala, former Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya, and former minister Dilip Gachhadar did not contest. From UML, former minister Lalbabu Pandit, Rishikesh Pokharel, and Bhuraj Rai have stepped aside. From the CPN (Maoist Centre), Sabitrakumar Kafle, Chandra Gurung, and Nagendra Dhimal are not in the field this time.

In Sunsari, UML leader and former minister Bhim Acharya, former Speaker Pradip Kumar Bhandari, and Manju Bhandari have not become candidates. Congress leaders Sitaram Mehta and Min Bishwakarma from Sunsari, Mukshahang Menyangbo from the CPN (Maoist Centre), and former Deputy Speaker Saraswati Pokharel are not in the electoral field.

The scene is similar from the Himalayan district of Solukhumbu to Udayapur. In Solukhumbu, veteran Congress leader Bal Bahadur KC, UML's Manbir Rai, and CPN (Maoist Centre)'s Gopal Kirati and Hemraj Rai are not candidates. In Okhaldhunga, UML's Yagyaraj Sunuwar, Congress's Ramhari Khatiwada, and CPN (Maoist Centre)'s Mohan Kumar Khadka are out of the electoral field. In Khotang, a large group of former MPs, including Congress's Shivkumar Basnet and UML's Bishal Bhattarai, did not become candidates this time. In Udayapur, ideological leaders like former Congress minister Dr. Narayan Khadka and CPN (Maoist Centre)'s Jagannath Khatiwada are also outside the electoral arena.

All these leaders have previously worked at Nepal's policy-making level and possess a strong base in their respective areas. Analysis suggests that some leaders have refrained from contesting to protect their political image or due to internal party strife. Whatever the reason, the absence of these stalwarts not only affects the election results in Koshi Province but also provides an opportunity for new leadership in future parliamentary practice.

• Who is Out?

Taplejung

- From UML: Former Minister and Party Deputy Secretary-General Yogesh Bhattarai, Former Minister Tank Angbuhang

- From Congress: Former Minister Pratap Prakash Hangam

Panchthar

- Former Minister Basanta Nemwang from UML

- Constituent Assembly Member Bhishma Raj Angdembe from Congress

Ilam

- From Congress: Leaders Dambar Bahadur Khadka, Benupraj Prasai

- From UML: Former MP Mahesh Basnet

- From CPN (Maoist Centre): Former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal

- Former Provincial Assembly Member Dhirendra Sharma who joined a different faction

Jhapa

- From Congress: Vice President Bishwa Prakash Sharma, Leaders Indra Budhathoki, Dr. Khagendra Adhikari

- From UML: Former Minister Agni Kharel, Constituent Assembly Members Deepak Karki and Rabin Koirala, among others.

- From CPN (Maoist Centre): Constituent Assembly Member Purnasingh Rajbanshi, Former Minister Jhalak Singh Darlami, among others.

Sankhuwasabha

- From UML: Former MP Rajendra Gautam, Former Minister Tulsi Neupane, Former MP Parshumeghi Gurung

- From Congress: Constituent Assembly Member Taramana Gurung

Tehrathum

- From Congress: Former Minister Sita Gurung

- Former Minister Bhawani Khapung and Constituent Assembly Member Vijay Subba from UML

Dhankuta

- Independent Constituent Assembly Member Hemraj Bhandari, formerly of the Maoist party

Bhojpur

- Former MP Ghanendra Basnet of CPN (Unified), UML leader Constituent Assembly Member Kripasur Sherpa

- Umeshjung Rayamajhi of Congress

Morang

- From UML: Constituent Assembly Member Rishikesh Pokharel, Former Minister Lalbabu Pandit, Leaders Bhuraj Rai and Satyanarayan Chaudhary

- From Congress: Former Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala, Former Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya, Former Minister Dilip Gachhadar, and Leader Basanta Bhattarai

- From CPN (Maoist Centre): Constituent Assembly Members Sabitri Kafle, Chandra Gurung, Nagendra Dhimal, Lalbahadur Susling, and Former Minister Vijay Biswas.

Sunsari

- From UML: Former Minister Bhim Acharya, Former Koshi Province Speaker Pradip Kumar Bhandari, Leader Manju Bhandari, Former MP Sarbadhwaj Sava, and Leader Jaykumar Rai

- Congress Leaders and Constituent Assembly Member Sitaram Mehta, Former MP Min Bishwakarma

- From CPN (Maoist Centre): Mukshahang Menyangbo, Former Koshi Province Deputy Speaker Saraswati Pokharel, Constituent Assembly Member Santosh Tharu, Leaders Shivkumar Dangi, Dambar Subedi, Constituent Assembly Member Kiran Rai

Solukhumbu

- From Congress: Former MP Bal Bahadur KC

- From UML: Former Minister Manbir Rai

- From CPN (Maoist Centre): Former Minister Gopal Kirati,

Bhojpur

- Former MP Hemraj Rai

Okhaldhunga

- From UML: Constituent Assembly Member Yagyaraj Sunuwar

- From Congress: Constituent Assembly Member Ramhari Khatiwada

- From CPN (Maoist Centre): Former MP Mohan Kumar Khadka

Khotang

- From Congress: Former MP Shivkumar Basnet

- From UML: Former MP Bishal Bhattarai

- From CPN (Maoist Centre): Former Minister Ramkumar Rai, Former MP Tank Rai, Constituent Assembly Members Durgajayanti Rai, Samita Karki

Udayapur

- Former Congress Minister Dr. Narayan Khadka

- CPN (Maoist Centre) Leader Jagannath Khatiwada