Veteran Communist Leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha Suffers Third Electoral Defeat in Parliamentary Polls

Kathmandu. Nepali Communist Party leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha has been defeated for the third time in a parliamentary election. Shrestha was defeated by Rastriya Swatantra Party's Narendra Sah Kalwar by a wide margin in Sarlahi-3.

Kalwar was elected securing 46,890 votes, while Shrestha received only 13,338 votes, resulting in a defeat margin of 33,552 votes.

Shrestha, who became a Constituent Assembly member in 2064 BS through the quota nominated by the government, had contested from Sarlahi-3, an area considered a strong base for the CPN. Following his defeat, he has resolved to advance the construction of a revolutionary party in a new manner in the coming days.

“Let us resolve to move forward unitedly and firmly to advance the construction of a revolutionary party in a new manner in the coming days and to advance the revolutionary struggle in favor of the country, the people, and the working class,” Shrestha wrote on his social media platform Facebook on Sunday. “The election for me was not and is not for obtaining any position or for any personal interest. If victorious, I would have worked for the country and the people from the parliamentary or government front with constitutional responsibilities, and in the current situation, I will remain continuously active in favor of the country and the people from a different front.”

Shrestha, who served as Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister in the recent government led by Prachanda, received widespread praise for his good work in favor of good governance and social justice. However, due to the nationwide wave seen in favor of the new political party, Rastriya Swatantra Party, he could not pass the parliamentary competition this time.

He entered open politics after the Constituent Assembly elections in 2064 BS, and in 2065 BS, the government led by Prachanda nominated him as a Constituent Assembly member. In the first Constituent Assembly elections, the then CPN (Maoist) became the first party by winning 229 seats. At that time, Shrestha was the General Secretary of CPN Ekata Kendra Masal. The open front of Masal, the United People's Front, won 9 seats. When Maoist and Ekata Kendra Masal merged in Poush 2065, he was the Vice-Chairman.

In the second Constituent Assembly elections in 2070 BS, Shrestha was a candidate from Makwanpur-2. In that constituency, Subash Chandra Shah Thakuri was elected with 11,611 votes, while Shrestha received 10,740 votes. In the 2074 elections, there was an alliance between the two major leftist parties, CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre). At that time, he was defeated by Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, Chairman of Naya Shakti, in Gorkha-2. While Bhattarai was elected with 31,807 votes, Shrestha secured only 24,933 votes.

Although defeated in the parliamentary elections, he was elected as a member of the National Assembly from Gandaki Province in 2076 BS. With one month of his term remaining, Shrestha resigned and contested for the House of Representatives seat from Sarlahi-3.

Since merging his party with the Maoists in Poush 2065, Shrestha has not been directly elected by the people. Nevertheless, he is considered one of the leaders who receives many opportunities within the former CPN (Maoist Centre). Before the formation of the CPN, he was the Senior Vice-Chairman of the party. He served as Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister under Jhalanath Khanal's leadership in 2067 BS, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister under Baburam Bhattarai's leadership in 2068 BS, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure in 2079 BS, and Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister in 2080 BS. He is criticized within the party as a leader who has repeatedly taken political opportunities despite not participating in the People's War.