Women Candidates Vie for Historic Wins in Baglung Electoral Battlegrounds

Baglung. Since the promulgation of the new constitution, no woman has been elected from Baglung under the direct representation category for the House of Representatives. In the upcoming elections, there is one female candidate in each of Baglung's two constituencies, and both women are aiming to create history.

However, women were elected directly from Baglung in the Constituent Assembly elections. In the 2070 BS Constituent Assembly election, Gyan Kumari Chhantyal was elected from Baglung-2, and in the 2071 BS by-election for the Constituent Assembly, Champa Devi Khadka was elected from Baglung-1.

Since then, Baglung has not had a woman elected as a Member of Parliament through elections. Chhantyal and Khadka were elected on behalf of the Nepali Congress.

In the House of Representatives election scheduled for the upcoming Falgun 21, there are a total of 23 candidates across both constituencies in Baglung. Among them, 11 candidates are in Baglung Constituency No. 1 and 12 candidates are in Constituency No. 2.

Guma Kumari Budha Rana Magar is a candidate from Baglung Constituency No. 1, and Manju Sharma Chalise from CPN-UML is a candidate from Baglung-2. Guma, who came to contest from outside the district, is a candidate from the Mongol National Organization party, having arrived from Byas Municipality-13, Tanahun. Because she is from an outside district, it will not be easy for her to win the trust of Baglung voters.

Guma stated that she started contesting inter-district elections to establish her issues. She mentioned that society still views women differently and that she has entered the election to break down those perceptions.

She argues that despite the constitutional provision for 33 percent reservation for women, it has not been implemented, and she believes that one must revolt for women's rights. Guma stated that she is a candidate to raise the issues of marginalized indigenous nationalities along with women.

“We must establish the issues of the backward class through this election. The practice of confining women only indoors must be broken. They should no longer be limited only to the kitchen,” she said. “We have to fight for our rights. I have entered the election for that purpose. I must raise the issues not only of women but also of indigenous nationalities and the general public.”

Chalise, the candidate from Baglung-2, is a resident of Galekot Municipality-3. Having been active in the Nepali Congress for a long time, she became an independent candidate in the 2079 BS local level election after the Congress did not give her the ticket for the mayor of Galekot Municipality. She joined CPN-UML in the same year and participated in the House of Representatives election but was not elected.

At that time, she was defeated by Devendra Paudel, a leader of the then CPN (Maoist Centre) and former Minister of Education. Paudel received 27,794 votes, while Chalise received 20,193 votes.

Due to the expansion of the new party organization and the declining 'craze' of UML, it appears very difficult for Chalise to retain the votes she received last time. Many leaders and workers of the Nepali Congress were in her favor last time, but the Congress has put Tekraj Paudel forward as its own candidate.

Chalise stated that although parties have a tradition of not giving tickets to women for direct representation because they consider them weak, she herself has received tickets two times. She mentioned that fewer women engage in politics because they have to manage many administrative aspects, including social, family, and economic factors.

Chalise is confident of victory in West Baglung this time because she has been trying to solve the problems of citizens in the health service sector for a long time.

Asserting that she has contributed significantly to society, she claimed to understand the problems of the people of West Baglung well. She said, “I have worked to build a civilized society. I received a large number of votes even before this. The people of this area want me.”

In Baglung Constituency No. 1, candidates include Guma Kumari Budha Rana Magar of the Mongol National Organization, Bhakta Bahadur Bika from the Nepal Humanist Party, Kalyan Acharya from Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Sushil Khadka from Rastriya Swatantra Party, Hirabahadur K.C. from CPN-UML, Chitra Prasad Sapkota from Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party, Bhim Bahadur Shreesh Rana from Nepali Congress, Sahabir Thapa from National Republic Nepal, Krishna Prasad Adhikari from Rastriya Janamorcha, Lal Bahadur Gharti from Shram Sanskriti Party, and Tek Bahadur K.C. from CPN (Maoist).

In Constituency No. 2, candidates include Chalise from UML, Tekraj Paudel from Nepali Congress, Gyannath Gaire from Nepal Communist Party, Anchal Shahi from Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Jun Bahadur Thapa from Mongol National Organization, Tek Prasad Kami from Humanist Party, Narbahadur Budha from National Republic Party, Padambahadur Kunwar from Pragatisheel Loktantrik, Poornabahadur Gharti Magar from JSP, Lokendra Ghimire from CPN (Maoist), Som Sharma from Rastriya Swatantra Party, and Harkabahadur Pun from Shram Sanskriti Party.