CPN-UML Seeks Fourth Consecutive Win in Baitadi as Rivals Eye Upset in Mountain District Election

Dhangadhi. CPN-UML has maintained its dominance in Baitadi, a hilly district in Sudurpashchim Province, in the last three elections. As UML seeks a fourth victory in the upcoming House of Representatives election, rival candidates are aiming to end UML's supremacy and create history.

Baitadi, which has a single constituency, has a total of 156,372 voters. There are 11 candidates in the fray, including those from various parties and one independent.

CPN-UML's Damodar Bhandari was consecutively elected in three elections: the second Constituent Assembly election of 2070 BS, and the parliamentary elections of 2074 BS and 2079 BS. He is now seeking a fourth win this time.

Bhandari, who defeated Narendra Bahadur Kunwar, the joint candidate of the five-party alliance including Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Centre) in the 2079 election, is confident of an easy victory this time as his competitors are entering the field without an alliance. In the 2079 election, UML's Bhandari was elected with 33,611 votes, while his closest competitor, Kunwar of Maoist Centre, received 32,080 votes.

Having been elected from Baitadi, Bhandari has also had the opportunity to become a minister multiple times. Since he easily defeated the opposition candidates who contested with an alliance in the previous election, he is confident of easily sidelining the non-alliance competitors in the upcoming election.

However, the upcoming election does not look easy for him due to the changed political landscape following the Gen-Z movement, CPN-UML's stance on the Gen-Z movement, and the nationwide wave favoring change. All his competitors this time are new faces. While the youth generation is stirring up on one side, on the other side, many voters appear unfavorable towards CPN-UML because their party chairman, KP Sharma Oli, was leading the government during the Gen-Z movement.

The most interesting aspect of this election here is the candidacy of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) and the equation formed behind it. NCP has nominated former UML leader Parmananda Bhatta as a candidate. Bhatta is considered the founder of UML in Baitadi. At one time, when Bhatta was leading UML, the current UML candidate Damodar Bhandari was involved in student politics. Today, these very teacher and disciple are facing each other in the electoral arena.

To challenge Damodar Bhandari, Nepali Congress has put forward Chatur Bahadur Chand, a stalwart from the sports sector, this time. Chand, who is also the President of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), is the President of Baitadi Congress.

Chand, who left the teaching profession to join politics, is also considered an influential figure in the district. He started his political journey with the Nepal Student Union (NSU) in 2047 BS and became the district president of the party while leading the Teachers' Union. He is making the success that Nepali cricket achieved during his two terms as CAN President his election agenda.

'Just as cricket was made successful, I will ensure the overall development of Baitadi,' Chand tells voters. Congress is aiming to regain its old prestige, while Chand is trying to convert his personal popularity into votes.

The most interesting aspect of this election is the candidacy of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) and the equation formed behind it. NCP has nominated former UML leader Parmananda Bhatta as a candidate. Bhatta is considered the founder of UML in Baitadi. At one time, when Bhatta was leading UML, the current UML candidate Damodar Bhandari was involved in student politics. Today, these very teacher and disciple are facing each other in the electoral arena.

The arrival of Bhim Rawal, considered influential in Sudurpashchim, has further benefited NCP. With the arrival of Bhim Rawal and Bhatta, who greatly contributed to expanding the UML organization in the district, being nominated by NCP, it is anticipated that they might attract votes from the disgruntled faction within UML as well. Bhatta claims to break Bhandari's legacy by advancing the agenda of good governance and development in the district.

Baitadi is the home district of former Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand. Therefore, the prestige of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) is also at stake here. This time, RPP has nominated Bhupen Bahadur Chand, the son of Lokendra Bahadur Chand, as a candidate.

Bhupen has a multifaceted identity. He is an IT engineer, pilot, and actor by profession. His celebrity image has created a stir in Sudurpashchim. He is urging voters not to fall for money and temptation when he reaches out to them. According to RPP District Chairman Indradevsharan Bhatta, Bhupen's presence has added new energy to the party organization.

If we consider the proportional representation vote count from 2079 BS, a very interesting competition is expected here. In the last election, Congress received 28,106 votes in proportional representation, while UML received 26,897 votes.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has nominated Hari Mohan Bhandari, who left the Congress party. Bhandari, who was defeated twice in the Provincial Assembly elections in the past, is in the field with a new party and a new vision this time. Claiming to be a new force, he is trying to gather votes by reaching out to voters' doorsteps.

Similarly, Ram Singh Kunwar from CPN (Maoist Centre), Aan Singh Bhandari from JSP Nepal, Navraj Koirala from NMKP, Bisan Singh Bohara from Aam Janata Party, and Gajendra Raj Pandey from Shram Sanskriti Party are also in the competition.

Voters in Baitadi appear very conscious this time. Dharmananda Bhatta, 67, from Gurukhola in Dasharath Chand Municipality, says he will vote for a person who works rather than just the party this time.

Mahesh Karki from Dilasaini Rural Municipality says that Baitadi might deliver a different result this time compared to the past. 'The competition is among four or five people. There is a complaint that the old leaders have not worked,' he said.

Min Bahadur Bista from Melali expresses anger that the problems of remote areas remain unresolved. He states that this time voters will cast their ballots remembering the broken trust, rather than just looking at the party name and flag.

If we consider the proportional representation vote count from 2079 BS, a very interesting competition is expected here. In the last election, Congress received 28,106 votes in proportional representation, while UML received 26,897 votes.

Similarly, CPN (Maoist Centre) received 11,424 votes, Nagarik Unmukti Party received 9,939, RSP received 4,516, and RPP received 3,940 votes.