Intense Electoral Battle Heats Up in Makwanpur Constituency 1 as Candidates Campaign for Upcoming By-election

Makwanpur. As the date for the House of Representatives election on Falgun 21 approaches, the electoral atmosphere in Makwanpur Constituency No. 1 is intensifying. The contest has become fascinating with the participation of seasoned veteran leaders who have repeatedly contested elections alongside new candidates from the younger generation. A total of 23 candidates, including 13 from various political parties and 10 independents, are competing in this constituency.

In this constituency, candidates in the electoral field include Mahalakshmi Upadhyay (Dina) from the Nepali Congress, Rameshwar Rana from the Communist Party of Nepal (UML), Bijay Gautam from the Communist Party of Nepal, Deepak Bahadur Singh from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Prakash Gautam from the Rastriya Swatantra Party, Tej Prasad Upreti from the Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party, Bidya Shrestha Maharjan from the Shram Sanskriti Party, and Surendra Lama from the Ujyalo Nepal Party.

Ranjana Suwal from the Nepal Workers' and Peasants' Party, Mahesh Nepali from the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), Rupak Lama from the Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal, Deepak Sintaan from the Janata Samajbadi Party, and Yuvraj Lama from the Mongol National Organization are also in the electoral competition. Independent candidates include Rakeshkumar Sharma, Amik Pariyar, Rajaram Bogati, Mathu Pulamimagar, Amar Dangal, Tikaprasad Chaulagai, Sushila Subedi, Gyan Sagar Lama, and Rajkumar Khadka.

Among these candidates are some seasoned contenders with long political experience and some young candidates. Among the candidates, Congress's Upadhyay and RPP's Singh are contesting for the fifth time. RPP's Singh, who contested for the mayoralty of Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City, which falls under Makwanpur Constituency No. 1, in the 2074 and 2079 elections, was elected as the Member of Parliament from this constituency in the previous 2079 election. Congress's Upadhyay has contested for the House of Representatives multiple times but has not yet succeeded.

Rana from UML, Bijay Gautam from CPN, and Prakash Gautam from RPP are candidates for the House of Representatives election for the first time. UML's Rana, a former chairman of the erstwhile District Development Committee Makwanpur, is known as an experienced leader of advanced age. Following the filing of nominations, candidates have now started reaching voters' doorsteps carrying their agendas. This constituency comprises 15 wards of Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City, four wards of Makwanpurgadhi Rural Municipality, Bagmati Rural Municipality, and Bakaiya Rural Municipality.

Makwanpur Constituency No. 1 has a total of 158,435 voters, including 79,621 males and 78,810 females. This area includes more urban parts than rural areas. Although the organized vote bank of the party is small, RPP's Singh was elected in the previous House of Representatives election. In the last House of Representatives election in 2079 BS, RPP's Singh won by securing 27,816 votes, while Congress's Upadhyay received 25,434 votes, and Kamal Thapa from the erstwhile RPP Nepal, who contested under the UML's 'Sun' symbol, secured 25,420 votes.

In the 2074 and 2079 elections, due to alliances in that constituency, the erstwhile CPN (Maoist Centre) did not have its own candidate. However, in the first Constituent Assembly election, Prem Bahadur Pulami (Chintu) from the erstwhile CPN (Maoist Centre) won from this constituency, and in the second Constituent Assembly, Pralhad Lamichhane from CPN (Maoist Centre) won. Since then, the Maoists have not won this constituency in the House of Representatives elections.

Makwanpur Constituency No. 1, considered a stronghold of the Communist Party, saw a non-communist win for the first time in the previous 2079 election. The Congress party has never won the House of Representatives election from this constituency. As the House of Representatives election is being held this time under different circumstances and timing, the candidates are claiming victory.

RPP candidate Singh claims that during his short three-year tenure, he advanced many plans for the expansion of the Hetauda-Kathmandu connecting Kanti Lokpath road, construction of drains on both sides, and educational development in the district, and he believes voters will elect him again to complete these unfinished plans. Singh stated, "After I was elected, I brought many plans for the development of the area in Hetauda; those plans are in operation." He added, "I am confident that the people will elect me again to complete those unfinished plans." He is certain of his victory because he has worked for the development here and remained among the voters after being elected. He states his agenda is the protection of a Hindu state and eternal religion.

Nepali Congress candidate Upadhyay claims victory because she was born in this constituency and has continuously engaged in politics and social work among the local people. Upadhyay said, "Even though I lost elections multiple times, I have continuously worked for the joys and sorrows of the people here." She added, "Even if I didn't win, I worked for the people; voters will elect me to complete many of the unfinished tasks."

She states that the resolution of internal party issues this time, leading to unity among party leaders and cadres, has become a strong basis for victory compared to past elections. Upadhyay states that her main agenda is to improve the condition of the Hetauda Industrial Area and develop Hetauda as an industrial hub. She claims that voters will trust her and cast their votes because she worked for the prosperity of the district in the fields of industry and transportation when she was the chairman of the erstwhile District Development Committee Makwanpur.

"The people here have seen the work I did with integrity when I was the chairman of the District Development Committee, so the voters will vote for me this time," says Rameshwar Rana, the CPN (UML) candidate. "I will win based on the party's strong organization and the results of the previous election." He argues that UML must win to protect the country's independence, geographical integrity, and democracy. Bijay Gautam, the candidate from the Communist Party of Nepal, states that the party has a strong organized base in this constituency, and given that voters are looking for new and young faces in the current situation, he will win this time.

"Good governance and prosperity are my agendas, which is also the agenda raised by the Gen Z movement," Gautam said. "I am currently reaching out to the voters with agendas of good governance, prosperity, pro-people policies, and local development; voter attraction is increasing, so I will win votes." He asserts that voters' trust in his party has increased because his party performed well after winning from this constituency in the past.

While the candidates claim their victory is certain, the voters emphasize the need to focus on creating employment opportunities by building an environment for investment in agriculture and industry.