JSP Dominance Challenged in Bara-2 as Multiple Parties Vie for Upset in Upcoming By-election

Bara. The Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) Nepal has maintained its dominance in Bara-2 of the House of Representatives election, winning consecutively three times. However, this time, the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and the Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party appear to have formulated strategies favorable to their respective positions to break JSP Nepal's stronghold in this constituency.

Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav of JSP Nepal was elected from this constituency in the House of Representatives elections of 2074 and 2079 BS. Following Yadav's election as Vice President in 2079 BS, JSP Nepal's central chairman Upendra Yadav was elected in the by-election held in this constituency in Baishakh 2080 BS. Therefore, JSP Nepal is considered a strong contender in this area.

In the election scheduled for Falgun 21, the candidates from this constituency include Ramkishore Yadav of JSP Nepal, Bhaiyaram Yadav of Nepali Congress, Balbir Chaudhary of CPN-UML, Ramesh Yadav of the Communist Party of Nepal, Chandan Singh of RSP, and Shivchandra Kushwaha of the Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party, formed after the Janamat movement, among others.

Unlike the elections of 2074 and 2079 BS, voters are not as enthusiastic about Madhesi parties this time, and the Nepali Congress is facing significant internal conflict and strife at the district level. Voters in the inner Madhes region are unaware of the RSP, which lacks any organizational structure.

A faction within RSP is dissatisfied after the party snatched the ticket from Mamata Sharma and nominated Chandan Kumar Singh at the last moment for Bara-2. The candidates from the Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party and CPN-UML seem poised to capitalize on the internal discord within the major and new parties.

Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party candidate Kushwaha was an elected member of the Constituent Assembly in the 2064 BS election. He managed to secure respectable votes against the five-party alliance candidate in the by-election held in Baishakh 080 BS. Meanwhile, CPN candidate Ramesh Yadav has served as a member of the National Assembly.

• JSP Nepal Claims Voters Will Not Follow Whims

JSP Nepal candidate Ramkishore Yadav stated that policy and principles are paramount in politics. He clarified that the main agenda of his party revolves around the issues of Madhesis, Janajatis, Tharus, Adivasis, Dalits, and Muslims.

Ramkishore, who is also the elder brother of former Madhes Province Chief Minister Saroj Yadav, has been a candidate in elections since 2070 BS. He began his political journey by taking membership in the Nepal Sadbhavana Party with Gajendra Narayan Singh.

In the 2070 BS election in Bara-1, he contested on the ticket of Forum Ganatantrik. At that time, he was defeated by Nepali Congress candidate Ramayodhya Yadav. After 2070 BS, he joined the Janata Samajbadi Party. In 2074 BS, while preparing to contest in Bara-2, he rebelled and contested from Bara-1 on a Rajpa ticket after the party decided to field him in Constituency No. 3. He was also defeated in that constituency by Congress candidate Umakanta Chaudhary. Ramkishore was a key figure in ensuring Upendra Yadav's victory in the recent by-election.

Ramkishore refutes the comment that Madhesi parties appear nervous after Balen Shah entered Madhes, claiming that the people of Madhes do not follow fleeting trends. "We have seen Balen Shah chase away unemployed Madhesis in the name of cleanliness. He could not spend the budget of the metropolis," he said, "He is a celebrity youth personally, but not experienced in politics."

• Internal Strife Challenges Congress Candidate in Bara-2

Nepali Congress candidate Bhaiyaram Yadav in Bara-2 is facing problems from within his own party. The leadership selected through the special general convention of the Congress has nominated Yadav, who has been running non-governmental organizations, sidelining all the senior leaders of this constituency. RamPrakash Yadav, the regional chairman of Bara-2, states that Gagan Thapa's leadership has completely sidelined leaders who have contributed to the party for 40 years and given the ticket to an individual nominated by Gagan Thapa.

"Our chairman is still Sher Bahadur Deuba to this day. We cannot go against his directives," Yadav said. "We do not accept the special general convention. We will not accept the candidate nominated by Gagan Thapa after sidelining leaders and cadres who have contributed to the party for 40 years and have not received an opportunity."

Regional Chairman Yadav claims that 60 to 70 percent of Congress leaders and cadres in Bara district belong to the Sher Bahadur Deuba faction. Yadav mentioned that they are awaiting a court order.

Furthermore, influential leader Radhechandra Yadav of Bara-2 is not supporting Bhaiyaram. Radhechandra has served as a Member of Parliament in 2051 BS, a Constituent Assembly member in 2070 BS, a central member of the Nepali Congress, and the district chairman of Bara for four terms.

Due to significant non-cooperation from within the party, there is a lack of enthusiasm even at the election rallies of Congress candidate Bhaiyaram.

Congress candidate Bhaiyaram, however, claims that the cadres are enthusiastic and active. "I have been working as a social activist in Bara-2 for 27 years; I understand society," he said. "I understand the pain and feelings of the poor and Dalits. This time, the Nepali Congress will be the first party, and a government is being formed under the leadership of Gagan Thapa. All Congress workers are striving for this."

• “We Formed an Alternative Force to Respect the Spirit of the Janji Movement”: Kushwaha

Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party candidate Shivchandra Kushwaha claimed that they participated in the election by forming the Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party as an alternative political force to honor the spirit of the Janji movement.

He recounted that he had to rebel against the Maoist party because his voice for social justice was suppressed. Complaining that the public is deprived of basic facilities, he clarified that his main agenda would be to ensure easy service delivery to the people and establish good governance in the country.

He made it clear that RSP has no ideology, thought, or philosophy. "This is a party that came like a wave of air," he said. "I also have contributions and investments in parties like UML and Maoist. I have a lot of investment in the communist movement. However, I did not receive self-respect in UML and Maoist."

Kushwaha claims that the people have a good understanding of his contributions made while being in various political parties throughout his political life. Based on this, he stated that cadres from various parties favor him. "The voters here wanted a pro-people candidate," he said. "Based on the people's desire, I have found myself in the right place."

• UML Alleges Elected Representatives Failed to Deliver in Bara-2

CPN-UML candidate Balbir Chaudhary accused the previously elected members of parliament of doing no work in Bara-2. He asserted that Bara-2 faces major problems regarding bridges, roads, irrigation, fertilizers, market access, quality education, and health, and expressed confidence that the people would elect him this time to solve these issues.

Chaudhary stated that he is contesting the election to boost the morale of the people, which has weakened after the Janji movement. He mentioned the potential for religious tourism in Bara Constituency No. 2, noting the presence of the world-famous Gadhimai Temple in this area.

In the 2079 BS election, CPN-UML received approximately 9,204 votes in Bara-2.

• “Our Electoral Agenda is Change”: RSP Candidate Singh

RSP candidate Chandan Kumar Singh asserted that the people are seeking change and stated that he resigned from the Madhesi parties and contested on an RSP ticket in line with that sentiment.

Singh commented that his main competition in the election on Falgun 21 is with JSP. "The competition is among all parties here. How far ahead I am is something the people will reveal during voting," he said. "Our electoral agenda is change. The people are tired of voting for old parties."

Singh was elected as the chief of Devtal Rural Municipality from the then Rastriya Janata Party in 2074 BS. After leading the municipality for 5 years, Singh remained silent for a while and is now contesting from RSP in Bara-2. Singh secured the ticket for Bara-2 at the last moment, where Mamata Sharma's ticket was initially confirmed for RSP.

In the 2079 BS election, RSP received 2,800 proportional votes in Bara-2. Ramesh Kharel, a former DIG in the Nepal Police organization, was the candidate in this area in 2079 BS.

Bara-2 is a region with a majority of Yadavs. While RSP does not have much traction here currently, other parties suggest that Singh, having been a municipal chief, will garner some party-based and personal votes.

• CPN Candidate Attempts to Draw Votes Based on Personal Influence Despite Weak Organization

Although the Nepal Communist Party (CPN) does not have a strong organization in Bara-2, candidate Ramesh Yadav shows his personal influence. He claims to have good influence within the Yadav community. He has served as the General Secretary of the Nepal Samajbadi Party led by Mahindra Ray Yadav and is also a former member of the National Assembly.

"I have constructed an irrigation project worth 25 crore rupees in Bara-2. I understand the feelings of the people here," he said. "I am the frontrunner in the electoral competition; only they know who is behind me."

Candidate Yadav stated that his electoral agenda is to protect the constitution and federalism, establish good governance, and implement a directly elected presidential system and a fully proportional electoral system.

Geography of Bara-2

In Bara-2, JSP Nepal has elected representatives (Sharada Shankar Prasad Kalwar and Bacha Raut) in both provincial assembly seats, '1' and '2'. Bara-2 has 113,000 voters. This constituency covers 5 local levels and 44 wards, including Devtal, Pachrauta, Karaiyamai Rural Municipalities, Gadhimai Municipality, and Ward No. 8 of Kolhawi Municipality.

JSP leads in Karaiyamai and Devtal Rural Municipalities. Congress leads in Gadhimai and Kolhawi Municipalities, and UML leads in Pachrauta.

According to Election Commission data, in the 2079 House of Representatives election in Bara-2, JSP Nepal received 13,256 proportional votes, while Nepali Congress received 11,197, CPN-UML received 9,204, and Janmat Party received 7,397 votes.

In the by-election held on Baishakh 10, 2080 BS, Upendra Yadav, the joint candidate of the five-party alliance including Congress, Maoist, and CPN (Unified Socialist), competed against Shivchandra Kushwaha, the candidate of CK Raut-led Janmat Party. At that time, alliance candidate Yadav defeated Kushwaha by a margin of 5,081 votes. Kushwaha is now a candidate from the Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party.