High-Stakes Electoral Battle Heats Up in Baglung-1 Constituency

Baglung. The Baglung Constituency No. 1, currently in a phase of development and prosperity, has historically been a battle of prestige. This constituency, from which CPN (UML) leader Chitra Bahadur KC, renowned in national politics, was previously elected, is also known as an area with equally strong organizations for the CPN (UML) and the Nepali Congress.

In this constituency, which also houses the Baglung headquarters, 11 candidates from 11 parties are in the electoral arena for the House of Representatives election scheduled for Falgun 21. Among them, the recurring candidate is Heera Bahadur KC of the CPN (UML).

KC, who plans to enter the parliament building on his third attempt, is hopeful of being endorsed this time. However, it is certain that KC will face challenges from new candidates from the old parties and young candidates from new parties. In this electoral constituency, the CPN (UML), which plans to retain its legacy, faces challenges from new candidates from the Congress, Janamorcha, and the RSP, among others.

“I was not disheartened even after losing the previous elections; I am contesting for the third time. I was defeated in the elections for the second Constituent Assembly and the Provincial Assembly, but I did not stay away from the people. Now, as a candidate for the House of Representatives, I have reached the villages, and many have told me they will endorse me this time,” KC said. KC of the CPN (UML), who has served as the district, zonal, and central treasurer of the student organization, central vice-chair of the Youth Association, district committee member, vice-chair, and two-term chairman of the party, was defeated by Hari Bahadur Khadka of the Nepali Congress by a margin of 1,480 votes in the second Constituent Assembly election of BS 2070 and by Dipendra Bahadur Thapa Magar of the Nepali Congress in the Gandaki Provincial Assembly election of BS 2079.

In this constituency, other parties are contesting alone, while the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) and Rastriya Janamorcha have formed an alliance. The Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) is supporting Janamorcha candidate Krishna Adhikari, while in Constituency No. 2, Janamorcha is supporting CPN's Gyamanath Gaire.

In Constituency No. 1, the candidates are Bhim Bahadur Shrees of the Nepali Congress, Sushil Khadka of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, and Krishna Adhikari of Janamorcha. Congress leader Shrees, who entered mainstream Nepali Congress politics from student politics, is also known as a popular leader. Shrees was the student union chairman at Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, in 2062 BS.

Chitra Bahadur KC was previously the Member of Parliament from Baglung Constituency No. 1, which is considered the stronghold of Rastriya Janamorcha. To uphold KC's legacy, the CPN is supporting former central secretary of Janamorcha, Krishna Adhikari. Candidate Adhikari is politically active in various responsibilities within CPN Masal and its front organization, Rastriya Janamorcha. Adhikari, who started his political career in 2038 BS with Akhil Chhathau, served as Chitra Bahadur KC's private secretary.

Young entrepreneur Sushil Khadka is in the electoral field from the Rastriya Swatantra Party. He has been urging people to vote for new faces for change. Kalyan Bikram Acharya of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party has emerged as a young candidate competing in Baglung Constituency No. 1. Furthermore, Bhakt Bahadur Bika of the Nepal Humanist Party, Gumakumari Budha Ranmagar of the Mongol National Organization, Chitra Prasad Sapkota of the Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party, Sahabir Thapa of the National Republic Nepal, Lal Bahadur Gharti of the Shram Sanskriti Party, and Tek Bahadur KC of the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) are in the electoral field.