Nepali Congress Proportional Representation List Heavily Features Relatives of Leaders and Former Ministers

The list of candidates recommended by the Nepali Congress for proportional representation parliamentary seats includes family members, relatives of leaders, and individuals who have served as ministers multiple times. A dominance of family members and relatives of leaders is evident in the closed list submitted to the Election Commission by the then-President Sher Bahadur Deuba for 20 seats.

The Congress Working Committee meeting held on Sunday sent the names of 15 women and 5 men to be elected through the proportional representation system to the Election Commission. In the list sent to the Commission, Madan Krishna Shrestha (Disability), Bhishma Raj Angdambe, Geetakumari Sendang, Gangalakshmi Awal, Gita Gurung, and Renuka Kaucha have been recommended from the Indigenous Nationalities cluster. From the Khas Arya cluster, Arjun Narsingh KC, Kalibahadur Sahakari, Sushila Dhakal Acharya, Rukminidevi Koirala, Reena Upreti, and Sita Thapaliya have been recommended.

From the Dalit cluster, Harinadevi Kami, Pabitra BK, and Manmaya Bishwakarma; from the Madhesi cluster, Dr. Chandramohan Yadav, Ninukumari Karna, and Rekhakumari Yadav; from the Muslim cluster, Sahajan Khatun; and from the Tharu cluster, Pramilakumari Gachhadar have been recommended as members of parliament.

They will receive their certificates after the Election Commission determines whether the cluster numbers align with the set criteria.

KC, recommended from the Khas Arya male cluster for proportional representation, is the father-in-law of Congress President Thapa. He is an individual who has served as a member of parliament and minister multiple times previously. KC is also one of the leaders who has contested the most elections in contemporary politics.

The 78-year-old KC used to sharply criticize the then-President Deuba, raising the issue of generational transition. KC, who started his student politics with the Congress, was elected from the National Panchayat in 2038 BS and became a State Minister. After being defeated in the National Panchayat election in 2043 BS for the second time, KC became the District Panchayat President in 2045 BS. Returning to the Congress after 2046 BS, KC won the House of Representatives election from Nuwakot in 2048, 2051, 2070, and 2079 BS. He is now facing criticism for becoming a member of parliament through proportional representation.

Similarly, Dr. Chandramohan Yadav, recommended as an MP from the Madhesi cluster, is the son of Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, the first President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. He has also served as a member of parliament previously.

Reena Upreti, recommended as an MP from the Khas Arya female category, is the wife of Congress leader Bal Bahadur KC. She was the president of the Free Students Union at Padma Kanya Campus.

Ninu Karna, recommended to Parliament from the Madhesi quota, is the niece of former Vice-President Bimalendra Nidhi.

Bhishma Angdambe, recommended as an MP from the Indigenous Nationalities quota, is a leader elected as Joint General Secretary in the 14th General Convention of the Congress. Angdambe from Panchthar was elected directly in the 2070 Constituent Assembly election. Having contested and lost directly in 2074 and 2079, Angdambe is now set to become a member of parliament through proportional representation.

Although there has been discussion on social media that Rukmini Koirala is Dr. Shekhar Koirala's wife and Pramila Gachhadar is former Vice-President Bijay Kumar Gachhadar's wife, this is not true. Gachhadar's wife, Nirmala Gachhadar, passed away during the COVID period. Rukmini, recommended as a proportional representation MP, was a central committee member in the 14th General Convention of the Congress.