Rastriya Swatantra Party Candidate Takes Commanding Lead in CPN-UML's Traditional Stronghold Makwanpur-2

Hetauda. Makwanpur-2 is defined by CPN-UML as its fortress. The foundation of UML, which has continuously won in this constituency since 2048 BS, has been shaken this time.

CPN-UML's Birodh Khativada won from this constituency in 2048 and 2051 BS, Maoists in 2064 BS, and CPN-UML's Subash Chandra Thakuri in 2070 BS. The constituency was won by Birodh Khativada from CPN-UML in 2074 BS and Mahesh Bartaula from CPN-UML in 2079 BS.

UML is considered strong in this constituency, which encompasses wards 1, 3, 11, and 19 of Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City, along with Manahari, Raksirang, Kailash, Indra Sarobar, Bhimphedi Rural Municipalities, four wards of Makwanpurgadhi Rural Municipality, and Thaha Municipality. While it is explained that Maoist (currently CPN) has a good vote bank in Thaha Municipality, UML is a strong force in all others.

In the recently concluded election, the 25-year-old candidate from Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has shown dominance in this constituency, considered UML's fortress. Prashant Uprety, the young candidate from RSP, who maintained a lead of double digits over candidates from all parties since the beginning of the counting on Thursday, has maintained a lead of over 5,000 votes over the CPN-UML candidate.

So far, with over 66,000 votes counted from Manahari, Raksirang, Kailash, Bhimphedi, Gadhi Rural Municipalities, and Thaha Municipality, Uprety has secured 19,692 votes. His closest competitor, Mahesh Kumar Bartaula of CPN-UML, has received 14,690 votes.

Similarly, Buddhi Lama of the Nepali Congress has received 12,812 votes, while Labhshere Bista of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) received 10,260 votes. According to the vote count so far, 4,212 votes have been declared invalid in this constituency. A total of 91,241 votes were cast, and approximately 25,000 votes remain to be counted.