Heritage Preservation and Urban Management Top Agendas for Candidates in Kathmandu-8 Election

Kathmandu. Candidates in the upcoming House of Representatives election for Kathmandu Constituency No. 8 have prioritized urban management and the conservation and promotion of the World Heritage Sites located here as their main agendas.

This constituency, located in the center of Kathmandu, contains the Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, listed on the World Heritage List, along with various tangible and intangible heritages. Candidates have committed to focusing on the conservation, promotion, and publicity of these heritages, which are key pillars of Nepal's tourism sector.

Suman Sayami, the candidate from the CPN (Unified Socialist), stated that he is focusing his election campaign on heritage conservation and issues like encroachment on cultural land in Constituency No. 8, which is known as a cultural city. "I have been raising these issues to uplift the living standards of the people for more than a decade. This time, voters want to vote for those who work, not just those who talk," he said. "Voters are looking for self-governing and diligent leaders. They are not looking for leaders who disappear after receiving votes. I will try my best to address the people's suffering."

Nepali Congress candidate Sapana Rajbhandari plans to approach voters with issues concerning cultural heritage conservation, drinking water, and traffic management. She noted that the public has become much more aware compared to the past, as people have started questioning candidates during informal campaigning and interactions.

Congress leader Rajbhandari stated, "Citizens complain that leaders make various promises during elections but do not take the initiative to fulfill them. They ask, 'Clearly state what issues your party will fulfill if you win.'"

Rajesh Shakya, the candidate from CPN-UML, mentioned that voters are aware of his work as a Provincial Assembly member, leading to sympathy towards him. Given that the constituency is rich in World Heritage Sites, he stated his intention to develop a master plan for the promotion and preservation of these sites.

Candidate Shakya committed to focusing on the promotion of Ranjana script, the development of a tourism 'hub', legal recognition for traditional skills, and advancements in health, education, and information technology. Birajbhakta Shrestha, the candidate from Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), said that voters this time are raising issues of good governance and self-respect, focusing on policy reform and systematic management of the employee mechanism.

"The voters' request is to create good policies for the country and adopt a strict stance against corruption," he said. He stated that his agenda includes the conservation of tangible and intangible heritage in the inner city, solving the drinking water problem outside the city, and protecting public property.

22 Candidates in the Fray, Including Five Independents

Currently, 22 candidates, including five independents, are in the electoral field in Kathmandu Constituency No. 8. Candidates competing include Rajesh Shakya from CPN (UML), Sapana Rajbhandari from Nepali Congress, Suman Sayami from CPN (Unified Socialist), Birajbhakta Shrestha from Rastriya Swatantra Party, Navin Shahi from Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Sarojraj Vaidya from Janata Samajbadi Party, Nepal, and Bandana Shrestha from Nepal Workers' and Peasants' Party.

Furthermore, candidacies have been filed by Dinesh Shahi from Nepal Janata Sanrakshan Party, Remshbahadur Sunar from Sanyukta Nagarik Party, Rajendraprasad Shah from CPN (United), Shivsundar Karmacharya from Shram Sanskriti Party, Salam Singh Lama from CPN (Maoist), Rajan Khadgi from Ujyalo Nepal Party, Bijay Dangol from Nepal Sanghiya Samajbadi Party, Chhatrakumar Pakhrin from Rastriya Mukti Andolan Nepal, Muktinath Sharma from Rastriya Mukti Party, and Khagesh Ranjitkar from Am Janata Party.

Tulsah Shrestha Maharjan, Mina Neupane (Pandey), Bikash Khadgi, Sushila Nepali, and Sunita Maharjan are contesting as independents in Constituency No. 8.

2079 Winner and Runner-up Re-contesting

In the previous election, Shrestha of RSP won the Kathmandu Constituency No. 8 by securing 10,112 votes. Suman Sayami, who contested from Hamro Nepali Party, became the closest competitor by obtaining 6,179 votes.

In that election, Jivanram Shrestha, the candidate from the then CPN (Unified Socialist), received 4,881 votes, Rastriya Prajatantra Party's Prakash Rimal received 4,388 votes, and CPN-UML's Shivsundar Rajvaidya received 3,891 votes.

In that election, 19 candidates were in the field from Constituency No. 8. RSP candidate Shrestha, CPN (Unified Socialist) candidate Sayami, and Sanghiya Samajbadi candidate Dangol are contesting again this time.

RSP First in Proportional Representation in Last Election

In the proportional representation category of the BS 2079 election, RSP was the leading party with 8,104 votes in that constituency. Hamro Nepali Party received 5,023 votes, Rastriya Prajatantra Party received 4,955, Nepali Congress received 4,807, and CPN-UML received 4,055 votes, while the then CPN (Unified Socialist) received 1,169 votes.

In the House of Representatives election held in 2074, CPN (UML) candidate Jivanram Shrestha won from that constituency by securing 13,397 votes. His closest competitor, Nepali Congress candidate Nabindra Raj Joshi, received 12,953 votes, and Bibeksheel Sajha Party's candidate Pukar Bam received 4,414 votes.

Constituency No. 8 includes areas such as Bafal, Kalimati, Tankeshwori, Tahachal, Chhauni, Bhuinkhel, Shobhabhagawati, Lakkuthirth, Malchatar, Bijyeshwori, Swayambhu, Yetkha, Dhokatol, Bhimsensthan, Bhagawatiwari, Basantapur, Itumbahal, Hanuman Dhoka, Lampakha, Solti Dobato, Harisiddhi, and Chhakadol.

Kathmandu-8 has 57,811 voters. This constituency comprises eight wards from Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Nagarjun Municipality. Wards No. 13, 15, 19, 20, 23, and 24 of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, and Wards No. 4 and 5 of Nagarjun Municipality fall under this constituency. The Election Commission stated that there are 65 polling centers across 23 polling stations in this constituency.

In the Local Level Election 2079, UML candidates won in Wards No. 13 and 23 of KMC, Nepali Congress candidates won in Wards No. 19, 20, and 24, and the then Unified Socialist candidate won in Ward No. 15. Similarly, Congress candidates won in Ward No. 4 of Nagarjun Municipality and RPP candidates won in Ward No. 5.