Electoral Heat Rises in Baglung-2 Amidst Geographic Challenges and New Faces

Baglung. As the date for the House of Representatives election approaches, electoral fervor is gradually increasing in Baglung Constituency No. 2. Due to geographical remoteness and difficult terrain, candidates here find it hard to meet many voters at once. It takes hours to travel from one settlement to another by traversing high hills.

There is a compulsion to spend a lot of time in small hamlets to woo voters. It is not easy to conduct door-to-door campaigns in this constituency, which comprises 48 wards across 6 local levels. Nevertheless, candidates are seen busy meeting voters from early morning until late at night. Candidates from 12 parties are in the electoral arena in this constituency for the upcoming election.

• Constituency That Gave Minority Female Leadership in the Constituent Assembly

In the first and second Constituent Assembly elections held in 2064 and 2070 BS, the Nepali Congress won from the geographical area currently comprising this constituency. In the first Constituent Assembly election, Nar Bahadur Pun (Niraj) of the Nepali Congress was victorious. He defeated Tek Bahadur Gharti of the Rastriya Janamorcha.

In the second Constituent Assembly election, Gyan Kumari Chhantyal won from the Congress side. She defeated Tulshiram Aryal of the then CPN (Maoist Centre) by a margin of 1,877 votes. Chhantyal received 10,089 votes, while Aryal received 8,212 votes.

Shanti Kumari Adhikari of CPN-UML received 5,029 votes, and Dharmabhadur Kunwar of Rastriya Janamorcha received 4,791 votes. At that time, a total of 31,050 votes were cast. The total number of voters was only 41,401. Chhantyal is the first female parliamentarian from Baglung to enter parliament by contesting a direct election.

Chhantyal, who had only basic literacy, was placed first on the proportional representation list under the female indigenous cluster by the Nepali Congress for the first House of Representatives election after federalism. Chhantyal, who always emphasized development in remote settlements, passed away due to heart disease on Ashar 17, 2077 BS.

• Electoral Situation Changed Since Implementation of Federalism

Since the implementation of federalism, the Nepali Congress has not been able to secure the leadership from this constituency for the House of Representatives. In the 2074 BS House of Representatives election, the CPN (UML) led alliance was on one side, and the Nepali Congress was in a 'single' electoral contest on the other.

At that time, Devendra Poudel of the then CPN (Maoist Centre) was victorious with the support of parties including Rastriya Janamorcha and CPN-UML. He defeated Nar Bahadur Pun (Niraj) of the Nepali Congress by a margin of 8,922 votes. Poudel received 28,827 votes, while Pun received 19,905 votes. Poudel, who was elected then, also served as the Minister of Education.

In the 2079 BS House of Representatives election, the CPN (UML) alliance broke, and an understanding was reached between the Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Centre), and Rastriya Janamorcha. In that election too, the Nepali Congress did not get its candidate from this constituency. Devendra became the candidate from the Maoist Centre again.

Devendra defeated Manju Sharma Chalise of CPN-UML by a margin of 4,601 votes. Poudel received 24,794 votes, while Chalise received 20,193 votes. Chalise is contesting again from UML this time. Tilak Khatri of Rastriya Swatantra Party received 2,327 votes.

• New Faces in the Electoral Arena

Currently, candidates from 12 parties, including Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Centre), and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), are contesting the election in this constituency. Tekraj Poudel is the candidate from Congress, Manju Sharma Chalise from UML, Gyamanath Gaire from CPN (Maoist Centre), and Som Sharma from RSP.

Similarly, Anchal Shahi is the candidate from RPP, Padambahadur Kunwar from Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party, Harkabahadur Pun from Shram Sanskriti Party, and Lokendra Ghimire from Nepal Communist Party (Maoist).

There is growing interest in who will win between the established parties, which are organizationally strong, and RSP, which is in the phase of organizational expansion. Most faces in this election are new. Nepali Congress's Poudel entered politics after working for a long time in the student organization. He had never been a candidate in any previous election. He is a resident of Nisikhola.

Manju Sharma Chalise of CPN-UML worked as a health worker for a long time and fully entered politics starting from the 2079 BS local elections. Chalise, who worked in the Nepali Congress for a long time, was displeased when Congress did not give her the ticket for the mayor of Galakot Municipality in that election. She contested as an independent candidate in that election but could not win.

Chalise, who joined CPN-UML around the time of the House of Representatives election in Mangsir 2079 BS, was given the ticket by UML but failed to get elected. She is the only candidate repeating in this constituency this time.

Gyamanath Gaire, the candidate from CPN (Maoist Centre), is also contesting an election for the first time. Having been involved in the armed conflict and active in the politics of the then Maoist party, he is entering electoral competition for the first time.

The new party, RSP, which is in the process of organizational expansion, has nominated social activist Som Sharma this time. Sharma, a resident of Baglung Bazaar, is also entering the electoral arena for the first time. He has been campaigning door-to-door in Constituency No. 2 since filing his nomination. However, the residents of Baglung Constituency No. 2 refer to him as a 'tourist candidate'.

• Trilateral Showdown Confirmed in Congress Stronghold

Baglung Constituency No. 2 is widely considered a stronghold of the Nepali Congress. Although Congress won both Constituent Assembly elections, it has been left without leadership after federalism. This time, a trilateral contest is anticipated between Congress, CPN (Maoist Centre), and CPN-UML.

Given that the old parties have strong organizations, the competition is expected to be among these three parties. Many believe that RSP will struggle to win as its organization is not yet fully established. However, there is greater attraction towards RSP among the younger generation. Voters in the area are disgruntled that political parties have repeatedly fielded external candidates in Baglung-2. They have also raised voices demanding that candidates from this very constituency should be elected.

In the previous elections of 2074 and 2079 BS, Maoist's Devendra Poudel won by contesting from Constituency No. 1. Local voters have accused him of not understanding the problems and sentiments of the people in this constituency. Poudel is contesting the upcoming election from Nawalparasi West this time. Except for Som Sharma of RSP, all other candidates this time are residents of the same constituency.

• Maoist Centre Relies on Janamorcha, Congress-UML Fear New Entrants

CPN (Maoist Centre), which supported Rastriya Janamorcha in Baglung Constituency No. 1, has received Janamorcha's support in this constituency. Other parties are contesting alone. CPN (Maoist Centre), which has a good vote bank in this constituency, is further encouraged by Janamorcha's support. The Maoist Centre, which won the last two elections, is under pressure to retain its legacy this time. However, CPN (Maoist Centre) is also concerned about vote splitting by Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party and Nepal Communist Party (Maoist).

Congress and UML, despite having strong organizations, failed to send their representatives to the federal parliament and are under pressure to win this time. Leaders say that a large number of the younger generation has defected from Congress to RSP. Since the RSP candidate is expected to receive a large number of votes from the youth, the result may differ from previous elections.

• Congress Strong in Ward-Level Status

In this constituency, comprising 2 municipalities and 4 rural municipalities (6 local levels in total), the Nepali Congress leads in all municipalities except Dhorpatan Municipality and Tarakhola Rural Municipality. In Dhorpatan Municipality, Devkumar Nepali of CPN-UML was elected Mayor in the 2079 BS local level elections. Nepali has been in Baglung Jail since last year on charges of cooperative fraud.

Dhan Bahadur Kayat (Kalyan), elected as Deputy Mayor from the Nepali Congress in this municipality, is currently leading the municipality. In Tarakhola Rural Municipality, the Chairman is from CPN (Maoist Centre) and the Vice-Chairman is from Congress. Congress leads in Galakot Municipality, Nisikhola, Tamankhola, and Badigad Rural Municipalities. Badigad has a Rastriya Janamorcha Vice-Chairman, and Tamankhola has a Congress Vice-Chairman. Galakot and Nisikhola have Deputy Mayors from CPN (Maoist Centre) and Vice-Chairpersons from Congress, respectively.

This constituency has 48 wards. In Galakot Municipality with 11 wards, Wards No. 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 10 were won by Nepali Congress, Ward No. 1 by Rastriya Janamorcha, Wards No. 6 and 7 by CPN (Maoist Centre), and Ward No. 11 by CPN-UML.

In Dhorpatan Municipality with 9 wards, Ward No. 1 was won by Nepali Congress, Wards No. 2 and 7 by Rastriya Janamorcha, Wards No. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9 by CPN-UML, and Ward No. 8 by CPN (Maoist Centre).

In Badigad with 10 wards, Wards No. 6, 7, and 9 were won by Nepali Congress, Wards No. 1 and 8 by Rastriya Janamorcha, Wards No. 4 and 10 by CPN (Maoist Centre), and Wards No. 2, 3, and 5 by UML.

In Tarakhola Rural Municipality with 5 wards, all five wards were won by CPN (Maoist Centre). In Tamankhola Rural Municipality with 6 wards, Wards No. 3, 5, and 6 were won by Nepali Congress, and Wards No. 1, 2, and 4 by CPN (Maoist Centre).

In Nisikhola with 7 wards, Wards No. 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7 were won by Nepali Congress, Ward No. 2 by CPN (Maoist Centre), and Ward No. 3 by Rastriya Janamorcha.

This constituency has 115 polling stations across 59 polling centers, with a total of 95,335 registered voters.