Candidates Campaign Vigorously in Kathmandu Constituency 9 Ahead of Federal Elections

Kathmandu. As the upcoming House of Representatives election draws nearer, candidates in Kathmandu Constituency No. 9 are busy with door-to-door campaigns to attract voters to their side.

Candidates and their cadres are actively engaged in aggressive campaigning. They are explaining the main agenda of the election, their commitments, and the issues mentioned in their manifestos to the voters. However, most voters have not yet disclosed whom they will vote for. They have been responding that they will vote for experienced, development-oriented, nationalist, trustworthy, and disciplined candidates.

Nanu Maya Bastola of the Nepali Congress, Dr. Ajaykranti Shakya of the CPN-UML, Radhakrishna Maharjan of the CPN (Maoist Centre), and Dol Prasad Aryal of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) are contesting from this constituency. The main competition is expected to be among the candidates from these four parties.

Aryal, the candidate from the Rastriya Swatantra Party, is a former Minister of Labor and the party's senior vice-president. Maharjan of the CPN (Maoist Centre), known as an old leftist leader, has a business background.

Shakya of the UML is the former Minister of Internal Affairs and Law for the Bagmati Province. Shakya, who holds a doctorate in Buddhist philosophy, won the 2074 BS election from Kathmandu Constituency No. 9 (1).

Bastola of the Nepali Congress has risen from student politics to become a central member of the Nepal Women's Association and subsequently a central member of the party. She was the runner-up for the Provincial Assembly member seat from Ward 1 of this constituency in BS 2079. The election manifestos of these parties emphasize education, health, employment, good governance, and economic development.

A total of 26 candidates have filed nominations in this constituency. Eighteen candidates are from political parties, and eight are independent. Out of these, four are women and 22 are men, informed Election Officer Menuka Ghimire. One woman candidate is from a political party, and three women are contesting as independents.

Nepali Congress candidate Bastola stated that she has prepared a clear roadmap for development, including the development of agricultural entrepreneurship, solving the problem of landless squatters, mitigating climate change, and conserving community forests, and she committed to implementing them and playing a role in enacting necessary laws for the country.

UML candidate Shakya stated that he has already been tested among the voters because he has delivered on scientific and systematic urban development, cultural renaissance, and heritage conservation in this constituency in the past. He committed that if elected this time, he would create opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship at the local level by connecting youth with technology.

CPN (Maoist Centre)'s Maharjan stated that politics is purely social service, and social justice, social empowerment, and economic transformation are his responsibilities towards this constituency. He said, "I was born in this soil of Kathmandu. I grew up in this climate. Therefore, I am committed to solving the problems of this constituency."