Independent Candidate Mahabir Pun Stuns Establishment Parties in Myagdi Election Upset

Baglung. The CPN-UML has traditionally been considered a strong force organizationally in the Himalayan district of Myagdi. UML has led in victories in elections over the last decade and a half compared to other parties.

Since the Second Constituent Assembly election in 2070 BS until now, CPN-UML has won three times in Myagdi, while the Nepali Congress has won once. Even this time, UML was aiming for a victory.

When former minister Mahabir Pun suddenly entered the electoral arena, established parties struggled even to save their deposits. However, both Congress and UML succeeded in saving their deposits. This time, Mahabir put a 'break' on the desire of the old parties to enter parliament.

Election Results Went Against Established Parties

In Myagdi, which has only one constituency, there were 12 candidates in the electoral field, including new and old parties and independents. Stunning all candidates, independent candidate Mahabir secured a grand victory.

Pun won with 22,850 votes. Even when summing up the votes received by all other candidates, Mahabir was ahead.

CPN-UML's Harikrishna Shrestha received 7,919 votes, Nepali Congress's Karna Bahadur Bhandari received 6,676 votes, CPN (UML)'s Arjun Bahadur Thapa received 3,529 votes, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP)'s Yuvraj Roka received 1,530 votes, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP)'s Dambar Bahadur Subedi received 252 votes.

CPN (Maoist Centre)'s Kshetar Bahadur Ghimire received 185 votes, Shram Sanskriti Party's Binod Rana received 127, Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party's Devendra Kami received 38, National Republic Nepal's Tul Prasad Garbuja received 27, Rastriya Janamorcha's Chhem Bahadur B.K. received 22, and Mongol National Organization's Bhim Bahadur Lama received 5 votes.

Who Won How Many in the Past?

CPN-UML won the Second Constituent Assembly election in 2070 BS and the House of Representatives election in 2074 in Myagdi, while the Nepali Congress won in 2079 BS. In the Second Constituent Assembly election of 2070 BS, CPN-UML's Navaraj Sharma was victorious. He defeated Nepali Congress's Khamvir Garbuja.

While Sharma secured 15,955 votes, Congress's Garbuja received 12,905 votes. In third place, Lokendra Bista Magar of the then CPN-Maoist received 6,450 votes. RPP's Bhimprasad Gauchan received 3,334 votes. A total of 41,196 votes were cast at that time.

In the House of Representatives election held in 2074 after the implementation of federalism, Bhupendra Bahadur Thapa of CPN-UML, representing the Left Alliance, was victorious. He defeated Khamvir of the Nepali Congress again. Thapa received 23,308 votes, while Garbuja received 20,980 votes.

Myagdi had a total of 86,397 voters, but only 46,893, or 54.27 percent, cast their votes. The Chief Electoral Officer's office stated that 3,176 votes were rejected in direct elections and 1,710 votes in proportional representation elections, accounting for 7 percent and 3 percent rejection rates, respectively. 

Congress's Khamvir, who suffered consecutive defeats in 2070 and 2074, achieved victory in 2079 BS. Khamvir defeated CPN-UML's Harikrishna Shrestha with the support of an alliance with CPN (Maoist Centre). Khamvir received 24,021 votes, while Shrestha received 20,180 votes. Shrestha was in the electoral field from UML this time as well.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party candidate in Myagdi supported Mahabir. Mahabir won due to his personality and the backing of RSP. However, Mahabir had been denying RSP's support. Arjun Bahadur Thapa, the candidate from the CPN (UML) formed by the merger of various parties, could not even save his deposit.

Myagdi had a total of 86,397 voters, but only 46,893, or 54.27 percent, cast their votes. The Chief Electoral Officer's office stated that 3,176 votes were rejected in direct elections and 1,710 votes in proportional representation elections, accounting for 7 percent and 3 percent rejection rates, respectively. 

District Election Officer Bimal Prasad Gautam informed that the rate of rejected votes for both systems has increased compared to the previous election.