CPN Aims for Clean Sweep in Sindhupalchok as Parties Gear Up for Elections

Kathmandu. The CPN (former Maoist Centre and Unified Socialist), contesting the elections alone after 12 years, is aiming to 'clean sweep' both constituencies in Sindhupalchok district. For the House of Representatives election scheduled for February 21, the CPN has retained Madhav Sapkota for Sindhupalchok-1 and nominated Yuvraj Dulal for Sindhupalchok-2.

Sapkota is under pressure to maintain the legacy of Sindhupalchok-1, a seat the CPN has continuously won since 2064 BS. This constituency was previously represented by former Speaker and influential CPN leader Agni Prasad Sapkota, who won the elections in 2064, 2070, and 2074 BS. In the 2079 election, his nephew Madhav secured the ticket and won with the support of the Congress.

In the previous election, Madhav won by securing 30,408 votes, while his closest rival, Ceres Nepal of the UML, received 27,066 votes. This time, he faces a challenge again from the same competitor, Nepal of the UML. Jang Bahadur Lama of the Congress, Bharat Prasad Parajuli of the RSP, and Rammani Neupane of the RPP are also in the electoral field. Intense competition is expected this time among the Congress, UML, CPN, and RSP. In the three years since winning, he built a popular image due to his strong presentation in the federal parliament regarding lawmaking and exposing the misdeeds of the ruling party.

In the proportional representation category, the UML received 22,074 votes. The Congress had 17,250 votes, the Maoists 14,885, and the RSP 5,366 votes. The RPP secured 3,539 votes, while the Unified Socialist received only 685 votes.

Victory and Defeat in Local Levels

In the previous election, the Congress won the chairperson and vice-chairperson seats in Tripurasundari Rural Municipality. Congress won all wards except Ward No. 3 out of six wards. In Lisankhu Pakhur Rural Municipality, the Maoists won both the chairperson and vice-chairperson seats. The Maoists won Wards No. 1, 3, and 4. Congress won Wards No. 2 and 7, while the UML won Wards No. 5 and 6.

In Sunkoshi Rural Municipality, the UML won the chairperson and Congress the vice-chairperson. Out of seven wards, Congress won 1, 2, 3, and 4. The UML won Wards No. 5, 6, and 7. The Congress won both the mayor and deputy mayor seats in Barhabise Municipality. Congress won Wards No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9. The UML won Wards No. 6 and 7.

In Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality, Congress won both the chairperson and vice-chairperson seats. Out of five wards, Congress won 1, 2, and 5. An independent candidate won Ward No. 3, and the UML won Ward No. 4. In Jugal Rural Municipality, the Maoists won the chairperson and Congress the vice-chairperson. Congress won Wards 1, 6, and 7, while the UML won Wards 2, 3, 4, and 5.

In the previous election for Balefi Rural Municipality, the Maoists won the chairperson and Congress the vice-chairperson. Congress won Wards No. 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 8. The Maoists won Ward No. 4, and the UML won Ward No. 6. This constituency includes Wards No. 2, 3, 4, 9, and 10 of Chautara Sangachowkgadhi Municipality. In the 2079 election, the UML won Wards No. 2 and 3, the Maoists won Ward No. 4, and the Congress won Wards No. 9 and 10.

Will Yuvraj Win the Bet?

Meanwhile, Yuvraj Dulal, contesting the federal parliament election for the first time, is aiming to reclaim the legacy from 18 years ago. After the peace process, the Maoists 'clean swept' all three constituencies in Sindhupalchok in the first Constituent Assembly election held in 2064 BS. In 2074 BS, Dulal was elected to the Bagmati Provincial Assembly from Sindhupalchok-2 (1) and became the Minister of Social Development. In the 2079 election, he served as the Minister of Physical Infrastructure. He resigned from his Provincial Assembly membership to contest the federal House of Representatives election for the first time amidst the challenging circumstances following the CPN-UML split.

This constituency is the traditional stronghold of former RPP chairman Pashupati Shamsher Rana and influential Congress leader Mohan Bahadur Basnet. Since the establishment of the Federal Democratic Republic, as the RPP weakened, the Congress and UML have been winning in this area. In the 2079 election, Congress candidate Mohan Basnet won with 39,381 votes. His closest rival, Sher Bahadur Tamang of the UML, received 27,515 votes. Narshingh Shrestha of the RPP secured 2,820 votes, while Maya Gurung of the RSP got only 2,453 votes.

In the proportional representation category, the UML received 23,995 votes, Congress 20,720, and the Maoists 15,556 votes, while the RPP received 6,627, the RSP 5,154, and the Unified Socialist received 1,015 votes.

The MP elected from this constituency in the previous term has withdrawn from the electoral field due to a corruption case pending in the Special Court related to the Teramax incident. Dulal is being challenged by Sher Bahadur Tamang of the UML. The Congress has nominated Banshlal Tamang as its candidate. The RSP has nominated Jhalak Kumar Shrestha, and the RPP has nominated Gopikrishna Chaulagain.

Victory and Defeat in Local Levels

In the 2079 local level elections, the CPN appeared weak in the Chhathpokhari Thangpal Rural Municipality. In the previous election, the UML won the chairperson and vice-chairperson seats in this municipality. Out of eight wards, the UML won 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Congress won Ward No. 2, and the RPP won Ward No. 4.

In Helambu Rural Municipality, Congress won both the chairperson and vice-chairperson seats. Out of seven wards, Congress won all except Wards No. 3 and 6. In Melamchi Municipality, Congress won the mayoralty and the UML the deputy mayoralty. Out of 13 wards, Congress won all except Wards No. 1, 2, 3, 7, 11, and 13 where the UML won. In Indravati Rural Municipality, the UML won both the chairperson and vice-chairperson seats. The UML won Wards No. 1, 3, 5, 6, and 9. Congress won Wards No. 2, 4, 8, 10, and 11. Only the Maoists won Wards No. 7 and 12.

In the previous election for Chautara Sangachowkgadhi Municipality, the Maoists won the mayoralty and the Unified Socialist the deputy mayoralty. Out of 14 wards in this municipality, the wards concerned are 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, and 14. The Unified Socialist won Ward No. 1, and the Maoists won Wards No. 6, 11, 12, and 13. The UML won Wards No. 5 and 14, while Congress won Wards No. 7 and 8.

The Past Record

In the elections of 2070, 2074, and 2079 BS, the Maoists were limited to only one seat in Sindhupalchok. After the state restructuring in 2073 BS, Sindhupalchok was divided into two constituencies.

In the 2048 election, Amrit Kumar Bohara of the UML won in Sindhupalchok-1. Krishna Raj Shrestha of the UML won in Constituency No. 2. Pashupati Shamsher Rana of the RPP won in Constituency No. 3.

In the 2051 mid-term election, Amrit Kumar Bohara of the UML was re-elected in Constituency No. 1. Bishnu Bikram Thapa of the RPP won in Constituency No. 2, and Rana won again in Constituency No. 3.

In the 2056 election, Mohan Bahadur Basnet of the Congress won in Constituency No. 1, Subash Karmacharya of the UML in Constituency No. 2, and Rana of the RPP achieved a hat-trick in Constituency No. 3.

In the Constituent Assembly election held in 2064 BS after the establishment of the Republic, the Maoists 'clean swept' all three constituencies of Sindhupalchok. Rajkumar Shrestha won from Constituency No. 1, Agni Prasad Sapkota from Constituency No. 2, and Dawa Tamang from Constituency No. 3.

In the second Constituent Assembly election of 2070 BS, Mohan Bahadur Basnet of the Congress won in Constituency No. 1. Agni Prasad Sapkota of the Maoists won in Constituency No. 2, and Sher Bahadur Tamang won in Constituency No. 3. In the 2074 election, Agni Sapkota won in Constituency No. 1 and Sher Bahadur Tamang in Constituency No. 2. Interestingly, the RPP stalwart Rana was defeated in all three elections.