Most Local Officials Who Resigned to Contest Federal Elections Fail to Secure Seats

Most public representatives who were managing local bodies and aspired to reach the upper tier of policymaking (House of Representatives) while their term was still ongoing have been disappointed by this election. Out of 14 incumbent representatives who left their local government responsibilities mid-term to become 'Honorable Members,' 11 failed in the electoral battle.

On the day of the House of Representatives election held on Falgun 21, chiefs, deputy chiefs, and ward chairpersons from various local levels across the country resigned from their posts to file their candidacies. However, among them, only Balendra Shah (Balen), the former Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Harka Raj Rai (Sampang), the former Mayor of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City, and Sushil Sah Kanu, a Ward Chairperson of Birgunj Metropolitan City, succeeded in winning.

Rise of Balen and Harka in the Center

Balen Shah and Harka Sampang, who gained prominence after being elected independently in local bodies, have managed to maintain their prestige at the national level as well. Balen Shah, who contested from Jhapa Constituency No. 5 on behalf of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), won by defeating competitors including CPN-UML Chairman and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli by a significant margin.

Similarly, Harka Sampang, who competed from Sunsari Constituency No. 1 representing his own 'Shram Sanskriti Party,' also secured a favorable result, making a leap into central politics. He surpassed RSP candidate Sarin Tamang and CPN candidate Manoj Bhattarai, who was also the ward chairperson of his own ward. Likewise, Sushil Sah Kanu, who resigned from his post as Ward Chairperson of Birgunj Metropolitan City to contest from Parsa Constituency No. 2 for the RSP, also won, getting the opportunity to move directly from the ward to the parliament building. He defeated former Nepali Congress minister Ajay Chaurasia by a large margin.

11 Candidates Who Lost Their Posts and Failed to Win

Except for the three winners, the parliamentary journey of the other 11 public representatives has come to a complete halt. Notably, Renu Dahal, who left the post of Mayor of Bharatpur Metropolitan City to contest from Chitwan Constituency No. 3, was defeated. Although she entered the electoral field after the Maoist Centre transformed into CPN, she was defeated by Sobita Gautam of the RSP.

Former Mayor of Dhulikhel, Ashok Byanjankar Shrestha, was defeated by Badan Bhandari of the RSP in Kavre-2. Shrestha was limited to the third position in that constituency. Former Mayor of Rangeli, Dilip Bagadiya, who contested on behalf of CPN-UML, was defeated by Krishna Kumar Karki of the RSP in Morang-2. Former Mayor of Suryodaya, Ran Bahadur Rai, who was the CPN candidate, was relegated to the fifth position in Ilam-1. Nishkal Rai of the Nepali Congress won in his constituency.

Furthermore, former Mayor of Tikapur, Ramlal Dagaura Tharu, who joined CPN from the Nagarik Unmukti Party, was defeated in the electoral contest in Kailali-1. Komal Gyawali of the RSP won in that constituency, while Tharu finished in third place.

Asim Rai of the CPN, who left the post of Rural Municipality Chairman to aim for the House of Representatives in Solukhumbu, was defeated by Prakash Singh Karki of the Nepali Congress. Asim had resigned as the Chairman of Thulung Dudhkoshi Rural Municipality to become a candidate. Major Kumar Rai of the CPN Maoist Centre, who left the post of Limchungbung Rural Municipality Chairman in Udayapur to contest in Udayapur-2, even forfeited his deposit.

Similarly, Deputy Mayor of Nepalgunj, Kamaruddin Rai, finished sixth in Banke-2, and Asmita Thapa, Vice-Chairperson of Likhu Rural Municipality in Okhaldhunga, who contested on behalf of CPN-UML, was limited to fourth place. Ward Chairperson Ramkishore Singh of Birgunj and Ward Chairperson Manoj Bhattarai of Dharan were also defeated.

Both of the two female representatives in the team of 14 participants in the parliamentary race, Renu Dahal and Asmita Thapa, were defeated. The 11 leaders who resigned, arguing to take their experience of running local governments to national policymaking, are now neither in local government nor able to enter parliament. For them, this election proved to be like 'fruit hanging in the sky, dying while reaching for it.'