Congress's Decades-Long Hold Broken in Dadeldhura as Independent Party Candidate Wins

The stronghold of the Nepali Congress in the far-western hilly district of Dadeldhura has crumbled after 34 years.

In the 2082 House of Representatives election, Dr. Tara Prasad Joshi, the candidate from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), achieved a historic victory, breaking the Congress fortress. The responsibility of retaining the seat, which Deuba had won seven times, was given to Nepali Congress candidate Nain Singh Mahar. Mahar failed to secure the fortress.

Mahar was defeated by RSP's Joshi by a significant margin of 7,010 votes. Joshi secured 19,131 votes, while Mahar garnered 12,121 votes.

Deuba had been an evergreen and undefeated candidate for the Nepali Congress in Dadeldhura since 2048 BS. The Congress suffered a defeat there because former Prime Minister and former Congress President Deuba was not in the electoral arena this time. Deuba had been elected seven consecutive times by the people of Dadeldhura, spanning the years 2048, 2051, 2056, 2064, 2070, 2074, and up to 2079 BS. Based on that mandate, Deuba served as the country's Prime Minister five times and as the President of the Nepali Congress for two terms.

Deuba, who was the victim of a brutal attack at his own home during the 'Gen-Z' movement, was displaced from the presidency in the special general convention of the Nepali Congress held before the election.

Although Gagan Kumar Thapa assumed leadership of the Congress after the special general convention, Deuba still wished to contest from Dadeldhura for the last time. However, he did not get the opportunity to contest the election this time. For that reason, Deuba flew to Singapore before the election, citing treatment. Deuba did not even return to cast his vote.