Veteran Politicians in Koshi Province Face Defeat in Federal Parliament Elections

Biratnagar. More than a dozen veteran political figures from Koshi Province have faced defeat in the recently concluded Federal Parliament elections. Leaders who have dominated Nepali politics for decades in various constituencies of Koshi were in the electoral fray this time as well.

Old faces, ranging from CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli to Nepali Congress's Bimalendra Nidhi, repeatedly contested elections, but this time they appeared helpless against the candidates from Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Shram Sanskriti Party.

CPN-UML Chairman and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was defeated in Jhapa-5. Oli, active in parliamentary politics since 2048 BS, had secured impressive victories in the elections of 2048, 2051, 2056, and 2074 BS. In the 2056 election, he won from two constituencies.

However, he faced defeat in the first Constituent Assembly election of 2064 BS. He tasted defeat again in 2082 BS. He was embarrassingly defeated by Balen Shah, a senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).

Meanwhile, in Sunsari-3, the Nepali Congress's hope for Vijay Kumar Gachhadar to reach parliament for the last time was not fulfilled. Gachhadar, who has been contesting elections from this constituency continuously since 2048 BS, was defeated in his eighth electoral contest.

Gachhadar has previously won twice from Sunsari-2. He was defeated by UML's Bhagwati Chaudhary in the 2079 BS election. This time, Gachhadar was defeated by RSP's Ashok Chaudhary.

In Sunsari Constituency No. 4, UML's experienced leader Jagdish Prasad Kushiyat is also on the verge of defeat this time. Although the results have not yet come, the RSP candidate is far ahead there. He was also contesting the election for the eighth time.

Kushiyat, who entered the communist movement from student politics, has had a very turbulent electoral journey. He was defeated by Girija Prasad Koirala in 2051 BS, but won the by-election in 2053 BS. After winning the Provincial Assembly seat in 2074 BS and becoming a minister, Kushiyat was narrowly defeated by Congress's Gyanendra Bahadur Karki in the 2079 Federal Parliament election. This time, he was defeated by RSP's Deepak Kumar Sah.

On the other hand, former Chief Minister and UML Secretary Sherdhan Rai was in the electoral field for the sixth time from Bhojpur. Rai, who gained prominence as the country's youngest parliamentarian in 2056 BS, was re-elected in 2070 BS and became the Minister of Communication.

Rai, who created history by becoming the first Chief Minister of Koshi Province in 2074 BS, was defeated in the 2079 Federal Parliament election. Despite the electoral setback, he remains powerful in the party's internal politics and currently holds the responsibility of UML Central Secretary. This time, he was defeated by Dhruvraj Rai, a candidate from the Shram Sanskriti Party, who was his former party worker.

Similarly, influential Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala was defeated again this time from Morang-6. Koirala was first defeated in the first Constituent Assembly election of 2064 BS by Vijay Gachhadar, the candidate from the then Madhesi Janadhikar Forum. Koirala, however, won the by-election in 2065 BS.

Koirala, who won the second Constituent Assembly in 2070 BS, was defeated by UML's Lalbabu Pandit in 2074 BS. After winning from the same constituency in 2079 BS, Koirala was defeated by RSP candidate Rubina Acharya by a large margin this time.

CPN leader Shiva Kumar Mandal, a candidate from Morang Constituency No. 5, was also a member of the Interim Parliament in 2063 BS. He faced defeat in the first Constituent Assembly election of 2064 BS and the by-election of 2065 BS. After winning in 2070 and 2074, Mandal was defeated by independent candidate Yogendra Mandal in the 2079 election. In the current election, Mandal could not even become the nearest competitor. Asha Jha of RSP won from that constituency by a large margin.

In other constituencies of Koshi Province, old candidates from major parties are competing. In Morang-1, UML's Ghanshyam Khatiwada is an old competitor. A member of the Constituent Assembly, he was defeated in the 2079 election. This time he was also seeking victory. But he was defeated by RSP's Yagyamani Neupane.

Similarly, Dharmashila Chapagain from Jhapa-2, who became a member of the Interim Parliament and then the Constituent Assembly, could not even enter the competition this time. RSP's candidate Indira Rana Magar won from that constituency.

In Jhapa-3, RPP Chairman Rajendra Lingden, UML's Haribahadur Rajbanshi, and in Jhapa-4, LP Sawba, who are old Constituent Assembly members, could not enter the electoral competition. Prakash Pathak of RSP won in Jhapa-3, while Shambhu Prasad Dhakal, also from RSP, won in Jhapa-4.

On the other hand, Dr. Minendra Rijal from Morang-2, Amanlal Modi from Morang-4, Ram Kumari Chaudhary from Sunsari-2, and Hari Roka from Khotang are also members of the Constituent Assembly. Their attempt to reach parliament was unsuccessful this time. In Morang-2, RSP's Krishna Karki, in Morang-4, RSP's Santosh Rajbanshi, and in Sunsari-2, RSP's Lalbikram Thapa were heading towards victory, while in Khotang, Aaren Rai of Shram Sanskriti Party won.

Furthermore, Constituent Assembly member Suresh Kumar Rai, a candidate from Udayapur-2, did not even enter the competition this time. Surya Bahadur Tamang of RSP won in that constituency, while Rai finished in fourth place.