Rupandehi-4: A Battleground Where Heavyweights and Defectors Clash in Parliamentary Election

Butwal. Rupandehi's Constituency No. 4 is being watched closely in the House of Representatives election. Sarbendra Nath Shukla of JSP Nepal is a heavyweight candidate in this constituency. He is contesting the parliamentary election for the eighth time.

Shukla faces challenges from RPP's Kanhaiya Baniya, who resigned from the provincial assembly and switched parties to become a candidate; Bhupendra Yadav of Janmat Party, who finished third in the previous election; Pramod Yadav, who joined UML after failing to secure a ticket from the Congress; and Ashutosh Mishra, a new and studious youth from the Congress.

Comparatively, this constituency is considered the less developed area of Rupandehi. In the 2079 election, Shukla was elected from the Democratic Socialist Party. At that time, Pramod Yadav of Congress was second and Bhupendra Yadav of Janmat Party was third. In that election, UML did not field its candidate and supported JSP Nepal.

In the proportional representation votes, the Democratic Socialist Party received 22,037 votes at that time. Similarly, Nepali Congress received 18,832, Janmat Party received 16,458, UML received 2,823, and RPP received 1,657 votes.

Kanhaiya Baniya, who was elected to the Provincial Assembly from the Democratic Socialist Party back then, has resigned from the Provincial Assembly and is now a candidate from RPP. Baniya was previously a close aide to Shukla, and the competition between these two is now being watched with great interest.

Looking at past election results, UML does not show a strong organization here. For this election, UML inducted Congress leader Pramod Yadav into the party just before filing the nomination papers and made him the candidate.

RPP candidate Baniya and UML candidate Yadav became candidates by leaving their former parties at the last minute. Jagannath Kurmi of Samari Mai-7, Betkuaiya, stated that voters are less likely to trust candidates who switch parties at the last moment.

RPP candidate Kanhaiya Baniya says he is contesting because he can do more for the development of Marchwar by reaching the House of Representatives than by remaining in the Provincial Assembly. He claims victory due to the new enthusiasm and wave in favor of RPP across the country.

Janmat Party's Bhupendra Yadav claims that although he finished third in the previous election, he has the basis to become first now. Mentioning that he has been continuously active in the constituency for years, he claimed to be gaining the trust of the voters.

Similarly, former minister Shukla, who has been continuously contesting elections since 2048 BS, is in the electoral arena for the eighth time. He claims that his contribution to the development of Marchwar is the basis for his victory.

Yadav states that since Shukla, the winner of the previous election, is having his votes cut by Kanhaiya, who left his party and joined RPP, he will benefit. He added that he feels more comfortable now that former State Minister Omprakash Yadav has joined the Janmat Party.

UML candidate Pramod Yadav was elected from the Nepali Congress in 2074 BS. He is trying to reclaim his victory.

Similarly, former minister Shukla, who has been continuously contesting elections since 2048 BS, is in the electoral arena for the eighth time. He claims that his contribution to the development of Marchwar is the basis for his victory.

Nepali Congress candidate Ashutosh Mishra claimed victory by stating that the Congress organization has been relatively stronger here in the past, he has been closely connected with the locals for a long time, and he has a clear blueprint for development.

In the past, the main competition in this constituency was among Madhesi parties. The situation has changed this time. History shows that votes here are largely cast based on individuals rather than parties.

With 22 candidates competing, this constituency has a majority of the Madhesi community. Most of this constituency is connected to the Indian border. Marchwarimai, Kotahimai, all of Sammari Mai, and most wards of Mayadevi Rural Municipality fall within this area. There are 116,172 voters here.