Dozens of Leaders Defect to Nepali Congress Amid Election Campaigning Period

Kathmandu. The Election Commission has set the campaigning period from February 4 to February 18 for the House of Representatives elections scheduled for February 21.

 Within just three days of the start of the campaign period, more than a dozen central-level leaders from various parties have switched allegiance and joined the Congress party.

Mamata Sharma, the founding chairperson of the Madhes Province for the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), resigned on February 5, ceasing to be even a general member of the party. On February 6, she joined the Congress party, garlanded by President Gagan Thapa, at the Madhes Pratigya Sabha organized by Congress in Tirahutiya, Janakpur. Sharma was also a member of the RSP's Central Women and Social Development Department.

Sharma, who resigned citing dissatisfaction with the party's working style, wrote in her resignation letter, 'I joined this party inspired by the main slogan that the younger generation should enter politics and that the knowledgeable should be chosen.'

'However, I have experienced that the methodology adopted by the party regarding the election on February 21, the party's decisions and working style, are exactly contrary to the founding values, party statute, and public commitments of the RSP. The contributions of capable 'Ghanti' (bell symbol) friends who worked day and night in the organization have not been properly evaluated, activities contrary to rules and statutes have occurred, the party's principles have not been implemented in practice, and fundamentally, party decisions have been motivated by financial irregularities, creating a situation that compromises my self-respect and political values. I am unable to remain silent as a witness to all these activities. Therefore, effective from today, I submit my resignation, ceasing to be even a general member of this party.'

Sharma, who is from Bara, had hoped to secure a ticket this time. However, she left the party expressing dissatisfaction after not receiving the ticket at the last moment.

Dinesh Humagain, the Deputy Chairman of the Bagmati Province for the RSP, also resigned, ceasing to be even a general member, presenting dissatisfaction in a 7-point letter. In his resignation letter, he accused the party of extreme manipulation in the selection of House of Representatives candidates and prioritizing those who flatter, please, and surround the leadership while sidelining dedicated party workers.

'Dedicated party workers have been sidelined, and individuals who have recently joined from other parties have been prioritized,' Humagain wrote in his resignation letter, 'Social activists who are singing songs and those who are flashy have been made candidates based on self-interest.'

Khemkumari Bhurtel (Urmila), a founding member of the RSP, also resigned from the party's general membership on Wednesday. In her resignation letter, she stated that she could not bear witness to the promotion of activities contrary to rules and statutes within the party. Bhurtel was a direct candidate for the House of Representatives from the RSP in the 2079 election.

Bhurtel, who aspired to be a candidate for the House of Representatives from Kathmandu 5, was the RSP candidate from Mahottari 4 in the 2079 House of Representatives election.

Furthermore, two former UML lawmakers also left the party and joined the Congress on Thursday. Janardan Dhakal, former UML Chairman and former lawmaker from Rasuwa, and Ramveer Manandhar, who was elected as a Member of Parliament from Kathmandu and served as a State Minister, took the Congress membership from the hand of Congress President Gagan Thapa on Thursday.

Manandhar, who joined the Congress, is a former central member and former minister of the UML. Manandhar was elected as a lawmaker from Constituency No. 7 in 2070 and 2074 BS. Previously, in 2049 BS, he held the responsibility of Ward Chairman of Ward No. 16.

Dhakal is the former District Chairman of UML Rasuwa and a Constituent Assembly member.

Pranay Rana, an RSP ticket aspirant from Kathmandu-5, and Deepak KC, a central member of the Nepal Communist Party, have also left their parties. Rana was the head of the RSP's Central Grievance Department. Both of them have joined the Congress party.

Rana, who was an RSP candidate in the 2079 House of Representatives election, received 5,477 votes. He left the RSP expressing dissatisfaction that the method of ticket distribution in the RSP was violated.

Similarly, UML leader and Chairman of Kathmandu National Medical College Hospital, Basaruddin Ansari, has renounced the UML. Ansari was politically active in the Parsa district from the UML. He was defeated for the position of Central Member in the 11th General Convention of the UML.

Senior Vice Chairman Kedarnath Chaudhary, leaders Manish Mishra, and Kedarsingh Thatola from the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), Nepal, have also left their party's general membership and joined the Congress.

Previously, some leaders had also switched parties and became candidates during the registration of nominations for the direct election of the House of Representatives.