Darchula Election Heats Up: New Parties Challenge Traditional Dominance of Congress and UML

Dhangadhi. The House of Representatives election scheduled for February 21st this year in Darchula will be distinctly different from previous ones. In Darchula, where the main competition has always been limited between the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, signs indicate that the strong presence of new parties and alternative options could disrupt the calculations of the established parties this time. Eleven candidates are in the electoral fray for the single House of Representatives seat in Darchula.

The main contest is reportedly between five candidates. The traditional powers, CPN-UML and Nepali Congress, are aiming to protect their legacy. CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) are strategizing to overturn the results this time.

In the field are Ganesh Singh Thagunna from UML, a new face Dharmandad Joshi from Congress, Laxmandatta Joshi from CPN (Maoist Centre), former teacher Rajesh Singh Samant from RSP, and former Colonel Rajesh Chand from RPP. Also competing are Nabraj Bhatta from Biplav-led CPN, Gagan Thagunna from Federal Democratic National Forum, Premsingh Bhandari from Aam Janata Party, Ramesh Kumar Rawal from Nepal Workers' and Peasants' Party (NWPP), and Bidyadev Joshi from CPN (Unified).

Ganesh Singh Thagunna, a central committee member of CPN-UML and coordinator for Sudurpaschim Province, is a familiar name in Darchula. He is aiming to reclaim his lost prestige and secure his third victory in parliamentary politics this time.

Looking at Thagunna's political graph, he won by a large margin in the 2070 Constitution Assembly election and the 2074 House of Representatives election. However, his winning streak was halted in the 2079 election. He was defeated by Congress's Diwakar Prasad Bada due to the alliance between Nepali Congress and Maoist Centre at that time.

Bada defeated Thagunna by 2,134 votes, securing 28,515 votes compared to Thagunna's 26,381 votes. Bada has announced he will not contest this time. Thagunna appears confident of securing victory again due to the changed alliance equation and his personal influence. UML's strong organization at the local level is his main base.

Following the announcement by the long-reigning leader in Darchula politics, Diwakar Prasad Bada, not to contest, Congress has put forward Dharmandad Joshi.

Darchula's electoral history shows that power has mostly alternated between Congress and UML. Except for RPP winning one seat in 2048 BS and Maoist Centre winning in 2064 BS, the dominance of the two major parties prevails here.

Joshi, a resident of Paparthala, Shailyashikhar Municipality-8, has an interesting background. He is an intellectual figure well-versed in the legal field. Congress seems to be fielding Joshi to attract new voters, but leaders close to him state that replacing a heavyweight like Bada and navigating internal party factions while fighting UML's strong organization poses a challenge for Joshi. Leaders from both UML and Congress readily admit that victory is in their favor, but the reality this time is quite different. The presence of RSP and RPP is strongly felt this time.

RSP candidate Rajesh Singh Samant is known locally as a respected figure. Samant, who left his job as the principal of Rastriya Secondary School, Dattu, to enter politics, has expanded his organization across the district in a short time. He is attracting the youth demographic and first-time voters who are disillusioned with the old parties. His personal vote bank is strong due to his contributions to the education sector. RSP is certain to cut into the traditional votes of both Congress and UML.

On the other hand, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has also built good momentum in the district this time. Retired Nepal Army Colonel Rajesh Chand is in the field representing RPP. He is the full brother of former Inspector General of Police Ramesh Chand. Chand's candidacy, backed by a security background and an elite family, is said to be energizing nationalist and monarchist voters.

This time, the parties are seemingly in the field alone again. Looking at the local level mathematics, UML appears strong. UML won leadership in Mahakali and Shailyashikhar Municipalities, and Duhun, Byas, and Malikarjun Rural Municipalities. It also has a good hold in Lekam, but there is no guarantee that local level votes will transfer exactly as they are to the parliamentary election.

CPN (Maoist Centre) achieved a historic victory in Darchula in the first Constituent Assembly election of 2064 BS. Laxmandatta Joshi, who was elected then, is now the candidate from CPN (Maoist Centre). Having not received many opportunities in parliamentary politics since 2064 BS, Joshi has returned to the field after a long interval. Based on the results of the 2079 local level elections, where this party performed well in Api Himal, Marma, Lekam, and Naungad Rural Municipalities, Joshi cannot be underestimated; he is analyzed as a potential third force.

Darchula's electoral history shows that power has mostly alternated between Congress and UML. Except for RPP winning one seat in 2048 BS and Maoist Centre winning in 2064 BS, the dominance of the two major parties prevails here.

In 2074 BS, when there was a leftist alliance, UML's Thagunna defeated Congress's Bikram Singh Dhami (22,233 votes) by securing 28,998 votes. In 2070 BS, when parties contested alone, Thagunna of UML was victorious then too.

This time, the parties are seemingly in the field alone again. Looking at the local level mathematics, UML appears strong. UML won leadership in Mahakali and Shailyashikhar Municipalities, and Duhun, Byas, and Malikarjun Rural Municipalities. It also has a good hold in Lekam, but there is no guarantee that local level votes will transfer exactly as they are to the parliamentary election.

With a total of 92,948 voters in Darchula, it is uncertain whose favor this election's result will lean towards. Inquiries with voters suggest they plan to give a chance to newcomers this time. Ramesh Bohara, a local from Shailyashikhar Municipality-4, stated that as a youth, he would choose a young candidate. He mentioned that the atmosphere in the district is very different now. While votes used to go to major parties in the past, he believes this time it will change.

Similarly, Birman Bohara from Apihimal Rural Municipality said that nothing can be predicted in elections. He added, 'There is a difference between the hype and reality; even if it is said that newcomers will challenge the major parties, the reality might be different.'