Election Fever Rises in Khotang Ahead of House of Representatives Polls

Khotang. Electoral fervor has sharply increased in Khotang for the House of Representatives election scheduled for February 21. The entire district is buzzing with election excitement as candidates from major political parties have begun door-to-door campaigns with fanfare. Fifteen candidates, including two independents, are contesting in the district, which has only one constituency.

Nepali Congress candidate Birendra Kaji Rai started his door-to-door campaign from Diprung Chuichumma Rural Municipality. Upon returning to the district after an election gathering in Kathmandu, he was accompanied by Koshi Province General Secretary Bhupendra Rai and former Halesi Tuwachung Chief Even Rai, among other leaders. Meanwhile, CPN-UML candidate and District Chairman Dev Bikram Rai commenced his campaign from Khotangbazar in Khotehang. Central Committee member Bishal Bhattarai and former district chairmen are actively campaigning with his team.

Similarly, CPN candidate and leftist analyst Dr. Hari Roka has been reaching out to voters door-to-door in Diktel Bazaar since Magh 7. Six former parliamentarians and former provincial ministers are visiting villages to manage his election command. Although a tough triangular contest is anticipated in the district between the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and CPN, new forces such as Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), and Shram Sanskriti Party are also striving to win the hearts of the voters.

Khotang, which has 147,120 voters, has designated 136 polling stations and 195 polling centers for this election. To ensure a peaceful election, the administration has placed 21 polling stations on the highly sensitive list and tightened security arrangements. The established parties are aiming to protect their legacy, while the new parties appear to be strategizing to overturn the results by cutting into the vote share.