CPN-UML Candidate Damodar Bhandari Finishes Third in Baitadi Election After Three Consecutive Wins

Dhangadhi. CPN-UML candidate Damodar Bhandari, who won the election from Baitadi three times consecutively, has been limited to the third position this time. Bhandari finished third while contesting for the fourth time. While the Rastriya Swatantra Party's candidate Hari Mohan Bhandari secured 22,134 votes, Damodar Bhandari was limited to the third position with 17,011 votes. 

He fell behind the Nepali Congress candidate Chatur Bahadur Chand, who received 18,194 votes.

Bhandari, considered a pillar of the CPN-UML in the district, was the only recommended candidate from his party. His political graph had been continuously rising here, but it hit a break this time.

Although Bhandari could not reach the parliament this time, he had previously held the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies in the central government.

Bhandari is considered a trusted figure of Chairman KP Sharma Oli within the CPN-UML. He was given the responsibility of State Minister for Finance in the Oli-led government in 2072 BS, and he became the Minister of Industry for a short period in 2079 BS. After the political equations changed immediately, Bhandari, who was out of power, became a minister for the third time on Falgun 23, 2080 BS. He became a minister for the fourth time on Ashar 31, 081.

He has won consecutively three times from Baitadi. He secured his journey to parliament by winning the Second Constituent Assembly election in 2070 BS, the House of Representatives election in 2074 BS, and the House of Representatives election in 2079 BS. He is also a Central Committee member of the CPN-UML.