Focus on Sobita Gautam in Chitwan-3 Overshadows Other Female Candidates in Upcoming Elections

Kathmandu. Sixteen female candidates are in the fray from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) for the House of Representatives election scheduled for Falgun 21. However, Sobita Gautam, a candidate from Chitwan-3, has become a figure who is discussed every day.

The main reason for the increased focus on her name now is her competition in Chitwan-3 against Renu Dahal, who has established herself as a successful mayor of Bharatpur Metropolitan City. Renu is also the daughter of former Prime Minister and CPN Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'. Although she previously carried the tag of Prachanda's daughter, she has now carved out her own identity.

She is a candidate who has won the hearts of the city dwellers by doing excellent work in physical, social, economic, cultural, and infrastructural development during her nine years as the head of Bharatpur Metropolitan City. Given that Prachanda is an influential leader in national politics and has served as Prime Minister multiple times, even with the 'back support', there is no dispute that Renu is the chief planner of modern Bharatpur. The general public does not seem to hold negative views regarding the candidacies of Sobita and Renu. However, as the election date approaches, expressions and activities that could create rifts in the cordial political competition are widely seen on social media.

• Competition between Sobita and Renu

With the aim of winning the election in their favor, especially RSP supporters are using low-level expressions on social media targeting Renu, calling her illiterate, ignorant of the law, and incapable of becoming a member of the House of Representatives. They assert that Sobita is a qualified person because the House of Representatives is the place for lawmaking. Sobita herself has consistently stated that the job of a people's representative is not construction development but lawmaking. During her door-to-door campaign, she said, 'The work done by the House of Representatives and local levels are different. The job of a House of Representatives member is not development construction. It is to make laws. Development happens automatically once good laws are made. It is important to explain this.'

She came into the spotlight in the 2079 election by defeating strong competitor Mani Ram Phuyal of CPN-UML from Kathmandu-2 and former Speaker and Onsari Gharti of CPN (Maoist Centre). Sobita is known as a sharp orator. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Law from Tribhuvan University's National Law College.

She has also worked as a lawyer and in journalism. Sobita, who has just turned 30, was born in Jamune, Tamakoshi Rural Municipality, Dolakha. She is a woman carrying potential among the younger generation. However, she is criticized this time for contesting in Chitwan-3 instead of her former constituency. But she maintains that she is contesting from this constituency because her home is here.

Last week, Chairman Rabi Lamichhane, who went to Chitwan to build momentum for Sabita, also mentioned that there was a specific reason for bringing Sobita to this constituency. Ravi did not disclose what that specific reason was. Whatever the reason for Sobita moving to Chitwan-3, analyst Indra Adhikari says that the kind of expression she has used against her competitor to prove herself superior is wrong.

'The narrative that if one wins, the nation wins, and if the other wins, only the metropolis wins, is wrong and deliberate. Renu is a person proven by her work. That doesn't mean Sobita is weak. She is excellent in her field. Renu is a woman seasoned by working in an executive role for nine years,' she says.

Adhikari understands that the high profile of Chitwan-3 is due to a clash of leadership. Since both are strong figures from the establishment side of their respective parties, she analyzes that they might have made victory and defeat a matter of prestige. 'It is a clash of personalities. Moreover, both are from the establishment side. Sobita has supported every good/bad aspect of Rabi. It is also heard that Renu is being groomed for future leadership as Prachanda's daughter,' Adhikari says. 'If Renu loses, it seems like a blow to Prachanda. If Sobita loses, it seems like a blow to Rabi. Considering all these factors, I understand it is a clash of leadership. But the way one is trying to show themselves superior by degrading the other is completely wrong.'

She expresses concern over the increasing trend of un-political culture during electoral competition, where instead of convincing the general voters about their party's agenda, ideology, and principles to win their hearts, candidates resort to belittling and devaluing competitors.

'There is a saying: Rabi is RSP, and RSP is Rabi. Sobita has not defended every wrong action of Rabi recently. Once someone opens up from Rabi's faction within RSP, the entire party rallies behind the candidate. The way she is being exaggerated recently is wrong,' she says.

• Other Female Candidates Receive Little Attention

If we talk about female candidates from RSP itself, many are more capable than Sobita. Indira Rana Magar, a candidate from Jhapa-2, is known globally. She was the Deputy Speaker in the dissolved House of Representatives and is competing against former Speaker Devraj Ghimire.

Before entering politics, Rana Magar was known as the chairperson of the non-governmental organization Bandi Sahayata Nepal. She played an active role in securing education, health, and rights for the children of women serving prison sentences for three decades. In recognition of her social service, she received the world-renowned 'World Children's Prize.'

Renu Darshana, a candidate from Kathmandu-1, is a familiar face. In the 2074 local elections, as a candidate for the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, she secured votes that challenged the influential candidates from traditional parties. Darshana is a woman who entered politics from Bibeksheel Nepali, considered the pioneer of alternative politics in Nepal. She joined RSP before the election. However, she has faded from the limelight compared to the hype during the local elections. RSP had placed her on the proportional representation closed list because she was pregnant. She secured excellent votes in the preliminary election. But after disputes within the party, Darshana withdrew her name from the closed list and contested directly. She gave birth to a child on Tuesday. Now, party workers are conducting door-to-door campaigns in her absence.

Besides these, Dr. Tosima Karki, Nisha Dangi, and Binita Kathayat, who played effective roles in the previous parliament, are overshadowed compared to Sobita. Karki, who won from Lalitpur-3 in the 2079 election, is contesting from the same constituency this time. Last time, she won by surpassing UML's Amrit Khadka and former Minister Pampa Bhusal of Maoist Centre.

Similarly, Tashi Lhamo Sherpa from Humla-1, Komal Gyawali from Kailali-1, Bina Gurung from Kaski-3, Gauri Kumari Yadav from Mahottari-4, Asha Jha from Morang-5, Rubina Acharya from Morang-6, Pushpa Kumari Chaudhary from Saptari-1, Nitima Bhandari Karki from Sarlahi-1, and Goma Tamang from Sunsari-1, who are candidates from RSP, are also contesting. However, these candidates do not seem to receive much attention within the RSP circle, on social media, or in the media.

• The Issue of Ashika

Social activist and artist Ashika Tamang has drawn much attention after becoming a candidate from RSP in Dhading-1. She is competing against the same familiar old faces in this constituency, which has been won exclusively by communists for 34 years. In Dhading-1, former Minister and CPN candidate Rajendra Prasad Pandey is contesting. Pandey won the elections of 2048, 2051, and 2056 BS. In the 2064 Constituent Assembly election, Shalikram Jammakattel of Maoist won. Pandey won again in 2070 BS. In 2074 BS, due to the Left Alliance, both Pandey and Jammakattel contested for Provincial Assembly seats. Bhumi Tripathi won from UML. In 2079 BS, Pandey won the election again from Unified Socialist. This time, Tripathi is in the electoral field from UML, while Congress has nominated Krishna Rijal.

Ashika, who often makes headlines due to aggressive expressions and controversial activities, is aiming to break the communist stronghold this time. Before entering politics, she gauged the opinions of her supporters through the social media platform Facebook. Initially considering an independent candidacy, Tamang ultimately chose RSP. As the chairperson of the 'Green and Clean Ashika Foundation,' she has been active in social service, playing an active role in treating the injured during the Gen Z movement and serving the lower strata during the COVID-19 infection. She has consistently raised her voice, especially on issues of corruption and maladministration.

Analyst Indra Adhikari states that, with a few exceptions, the reason for the focus solely on Chitwan-3 is the presence of two strong female competitors. She analyzes that female candidates are often overshadowed because it is a male-dominated society.

'Speaking of RSP, all candidates are excellent. But the reason for Sobita's sole focus is that the other strong competitor is also a woman. I think Sobita received more attention because a tough competition between women seems likely,' she said. 'Other female candidates are competing against men. The notion that women cannot do politics is still deeply ingrained in our society. Therefore, as long as this psychology that women cannot compete with men persists, such problems will remain.'