High-Stakes Electoral Battle Brews in Myagdi as Candidates Vie for Single House of Representatives Seat

Myagdi. A contest is anticipated between political parties and independent candidates in Myagdi, a Himalayan district with a single constituency for the upcoming House of Representatives election.

Karna Bahadur Bhandari (KB) of the Nepali Congress, Harikrishna Shrestha of the CPN (UML), Arjun Thapa of the CPN (Maoist Centre), and independent candidate Dr. Mahabir Pun have emerged as the main contenders.

Pun's active campaigning, following his resignation from the post of Minister of Education, Science and Technology in the interim government on the day of nomination filing to contest from his ancestral home, has stirred the political landscape here. Dhananjaykumar Shrestha of Beni notes that the changed environment in national politics, the rise of new political forces, the influence of competing candidates, and the strategies of the respective political parties and candidates have increased interest in the electoral outcome in Myagdi.

"The election in Myagdi, which often remains overshadowed at the national level in past elections, has been brought into the spotlight this time by the candidacy of Raman Magsaysay Award winner Mahabir Pun," he said. "The organizational base of political parties and the influence of the independent candidate make the Myagdi election interesting this time."

The CPN (Maoist) led by Netra Bikram Chand (Biplav) has nominated Kshetra Bahadur Ghimire, a former student union chairman of Myagdi Multiple Campus who was underground during the conflict period, as its candidate.

Dambar Bahadur Subedi of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Devendra Kami of the Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party, Binod Rana of the Shram Sanskriti Party, Chhem Bahadur Bishwakarma of the Rastriya Janamorcha, Bhim Bahadur Lama of the Mongol National Organization, and Tul Prasad Garbuja of the National Republican Nepal are also candidates.

Yubaraj Roka of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, who publicly announced support for independent candidate Pun, remains in the race. Shrestha of the UML is contesting for the second time, while all others are competing for the first time. This election marks a contest among parties without forming alliances, unlike since 2074 BS.

In the 2079 House of Representatives election, Khambir Bahadur Gurung of the Nepali Congress won from the alliance of political parties including the Nepali Congress, Maoist, and Unified Socialist. In the Provincial Assembly 1(1) and 1(2), Hari Bhandari and Resham Jugjali (Subin) of the Maoist were elected from the alliance.

In the 2074 House of Representatives election, Bhupendra Thapa of the UML won from the then Left Alliance, while Binod KC of the Maoist and Naradevi Pun of the UML were elected in Provincial Assembly 1(1) and 1(2) respectively. In the second Constituent Assembly election held in 2070 BS, the current Gandaki Province Chairman of the UML, Navaraj Sharma, was victorious.

In the first Constituent Assembly election of 2064 BS, Govinda Poudel of the Maoist won, in the 2056 parliamentary election Narayan Singh Pun of the Nepali Congress, and prior to that, Nil Pun of the UML was elected as a member of the House of Representatives.

In the 2079 House of Representatives election, the UML received 18,273 votes, the Nepali Congress 13,693, the CPN (Maoist Centre) 9,070, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) 3,579, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) 1,253, and the CPN (Unified Socialist) 285 votes.

In 2079 BS, Gurung of the Nepali Congress, who received support from parties including the Maoist, Unified Socialist, and Janamorcha, won with 24,021 votes, while his closest competitor Shrestha received 20,189 votes.

Myagdi, which has one constituency for the House of Representatives election and six local levels, has 86,397 voters. There are 82 polling stations and 120 polling centers, according to District Election Officer Bimal Prasad Gautam.

Candidates have entered the villages to meet voters, party workers, and conduct door-to-door campaigning. Political activities have increased the hustle and bustle in rural areas. Karna Bahadur Thapa of Dharapani, Dhawalagiri Rural Municipality-7, says he will make a decision after listening to all parties and candidates.

"We will welcome, respect all candidates who come to ask for votes, and listen to their plans," he said. "The candidate who wins the hearts and trust of the people will get the vote." Khagbir Paija of Annapurna Rural Municipality-7 Dosalle says that voters are in a mindset to decide after listening to the views and plans of everyone.

Candidates in Myagdi have committed to implementing the status of a Himalayan district, ensuring good governance by making public service delivery technology-friendly, eliminating delays, and incorporating the feelings, demands, and needs of the district residents in laws, budgets, and plans.