Mustang Gears Up for Elections as Candidates Return After Winter Hiatus

Baglung. Mustang, which had become deserted due to the cold since last Mangsir, is gradually heating up with the election atmosphere. Voters and candidates, who had moved to the cities three months ago to escape the cold, have started returning to Mustang only after the second week of Falgun.

Although candidates have returned, voters have only trickled in. There is much curiosity about who will win this time in Mustang, where the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have alternated victories in previous elections.

Candidates met and sought votes from the voters who had been staying in places like Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan since Mangsir, meeting them there. Now, they are trying to meet and woo voters after coming to the villages.

In Mustang, which has only one electoral constituency, eight candidates are in the electoral field this time. Candidates include Yogesh Gauchan Thakali from the Nepali Congress, Indradhara Dhadu Bista from CPN-UML, Ngtung Gurung from the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN), and Adhityachandra Thkali from the Rastriya Swatantra Party.

• Alternating Results in 2074 and 2079 BS

In the House of Representatives election held in 2074 BS after the implementation of federalism, Prem Prasad Tulachan of CPN-UML was elected. He defeated Romi Gauchan Thkali of the Nepali Congress.

Tulachan received 3,544 votes, while Congress's Gauchan Thkali received 3,281 votes. The margin between Tulachan and Thkali was 363 votes. At that time, out of 9,427 registered voters in Mustang, only 6,714 votes were cast.

In 2079 BS, Yogesh Gauchan Thkali of the Nepali Congress was victorious. He defeated Prem Prasad Tulachan of UML. Thakali is also in the electoral field this time.

In the 079 election, Thakali received 3,992 votes. Tulachan received 3,078 votes. The margin between them was 914 votes. At that time, the candidate from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Sudesh Gurung, received only 87 votes.

• Can Congress-UML Maintain Their Legacy?

In previous elections, the main competition was between Congress and UML, but this time the election appears to be heading for a triangular contest. The competition is expected mainly between the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN).

The Nepali Congress is banking on winning due to its strong organization and old 'legacy'. With former minister Romi Gauchan having a good influence in Mustang, it seems easier for them to secure a win. Yogesh, who won as the youngest candidate last time, is hopeful of winning again this time.

CPN-UML also has a strong organization in Mustang, which is a basis for winning. The candidate Indradhara is a resident of Upper Mustang. Since Upper Mustang has not had a representative until now, many assess that Indradhara could secure significant votes from there.

The CPN, formed by the merger of various parties, is also striving to secure a victory. CPN had a good organization previously as well. Given the nationwide wave of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) recently, it seems it might have some impact in Mustang too. However, due to its weak organization, it will require significant effort to secure a win.

• Local Level Vote Results

Among the five local levels in Mustang, the Nepali Congress won Gharphajhong Rural Municipality, while CPN-UML won the other four municipalities. In Gharphajhong Rural Municipality, which has five wards, Nepali Congress won Wards 1, 2, and 4, and CPN-UML won Wards 3 and 5.

In Thasang Rural Municipality, which has five wards, Nepali Congress won Wards 1, 3, 4, and 5, and CPN-UML won Ward 2.

Similarly, in Lho-Ghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality, which has five wards, CPN-UML won all five wards. In Baragung Muktinath Kshetra Rural Municipality, Nepali Congress won Wards 2 and 4, while CPN-UML won Wards 1, 3, and 5.

In Lomanthang Rural Municipality, Nepali Congress won Wards 1 and 5, while CPN-UML won Wards 2, 3, and 4.