2013 Constituent Assembly Election Candidates
By Individual Constituency Seats
Compiled by Keith D. Leslie
Indus Institute
November 2013
Nepal Election Commission:
In the 2008 election, the Nepal Election
Commission, a constitutional body mandated for holding national and local election,
registered 17.6 million voters. But for the 2013 election, the EC registered
only 12.1 million voters, a decline of 5.4 million. According to the Carter Center, only 12.5 million of the approximately 16 million
eligible Nepali voters registered for the polls.
EC officials said the number of voters declined due to strict
measures during the registration of the voters. They also maintain that the
number decreased as thousands of youths have gone abroad for the employment. But observers say as the country's
population increases every year, these reasons are not sufficient for the sharp
decline. The country witnessed a population growth by 3.3 million between the
2011 census and the 2001 census.
The EC registered voters on the basis of citizenship
certificates and brought new electoral roll with photo and biometric avoiding
any charge of duplication. However many people did not register due to
disillusionment as the parties failed to provide either a constitution or good
governance, as well as a lack of appreciation of the benefits of exercising
their citizenship rights.
Among the 122 political parties registered for this November 19th
2013 election, there are 6,218 candidates running in the First Past the Post
(FPTP) election system for 240 seats and 10,409 candidates in the proportional
representation (PR) election category for 335 seats. There will be 18,438 polling centers in all 75 districts of
the nation.
The EC has permitted each FPTP candidate to spend up to one
million rupees (=/- $10,000) and each PR candidate to spend a maximum of 75,000
=/ (+/- $750). However, observers
believe that major party FPTP candidates are spending significantly more than
these amounts to win.
EC
Spokesperson Bir Bahadur Rai has publicly noted that it will take one week to
announce the results of the FPTP and three weeks for the PR electoral system.
Banda: Despite assurances of
security, the ongoing Baidya Maoist transportation shutdown has prevented a
large number of voters residing in the Valley from going to their villages. While
short-route passengers are leaving, long-distance travelers are reluctant to
leave out of security fears. Transport entrepreneurs said the number of vehicles
leaving is 1/3 of the usual number.
Parties have offered free transport to voters reluctant to leave
amid security fears. Parties are sending vehicles to the Capital as the
shutdown has made it necessary for parties to provide free transportation home to
voters. According to the Census
2011, the Valley has 2.5 million people with an estimated one million people
from outside districts residing here.
Constituencies: Among the total
240 national constituencies, 116 are in the Tarai.
Dalits: In the 2013 CA election, Dalits have
been nominated by political parties for 6% of total FPTP seats. Dalits
constitute 15-20% of the population.
In the previous 2008 CA, there were
49 Dalit MPs (8%). Of the 197 women in the CA, 21 were Dalit women (11%). For
the first time in history, Dalits were elected through the FPTP system (all
CPN-M), including 2 women. 19 Dalit women were elected through the PR system.
Far Western Region: Of the 21 constituencies in the Far West Region, the
UCPN-M won 16 constituencies during the last CA election.
Gender: The
Interim Constitution guarantees 33% women representation in the Constituent
Assembly. In 2013, of the 6,343
First Past the Post (FPTP) candidates, only 672 are women (10.5%). Only 12% of candidates of the three
major parties UCPN-M, NC and UML are women.
In the 2008 CA, out of the 601 total CA members, 197 were women:
163 nominated under the PR, 30 elected under FPTP, and 4 nominated by the GoN.
Kathmandu Valley: There are 539 candidates contesting from the
Valley’s 15 electoral constituencies. The number of voters, however, has declined
to 881,872 in 2013 from 992,423 in 2008.
There are a total of 513 polling
locations in the Valley – Kathmandu has 311, Lalitpur 127 and Bhaktapur 75.
The NC gained 7 of the 15 seats in 2008 and is vying for at
least as many in Kathmandu 1, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9, as well as in Lalitpur 1 and
Bhaktapur 2. The UCPN-M won 4 seats in Kathmandu and made a clean sweep in
Lalitpur in 2008 -- but appears less confident in 2013. The UML was wiped out from
the Valley four years ago, but will try to stage a comeback this year. The NWPP could lose its bastion since
1990 in Bhaktapur. In contrast, Madhesi
parties have fielded token candidates in Kathmandu who will find it extremely hard
to do well in the Valley.
Limbus: According
to the 2011 census, Panchthar has the highest number of Limbus (80,000),
followed by Ilam (69,000) and Jhapa (54,000). Panchthar and Taplejung have the highest proportions of Limbu
population -- about 42%. Southern Taplejung, adjoining villages in northern
Panchthar, and parts of western Ilam (Ilam 2) are the hotbed of anti-poll
activities. Of Eastern Nepal’s 3.5 million people, nearly 11% are Limbus.
Madhesi Parties: The four Madhesi parties that participated in the 2008 CA
elections were the Upendra Yadav-led Madhesi People´s Right Forum-Nepal
(MPRF-N), Sadbhawana Party (SP), Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) and Nepal
Sadbhawana Party (Aanandi Devi). Now
there are 34 Madhesi parties contesting, most are factions of the four earlier Madhesi
parties. In 2008, Madhesi parties were the fourth largest force with 83 seats
in the 601-member CA.
Political analysts believe that even though inflation,
corruption and poor governance issues have been raised by political parties, the
voter’s caste and identity often prevails in the Terai.
New Political Parties: There are 122 political parties competing in 2013, some quite
new.
The Akhanda Nepal Party (ANP), Rastriya Swabhiman Party (RSP)
and Federal Socialist Party Nepal (FSPN) are among the new parties that may
make an impact in 2013. They have each
fielded candidates in many of the constituencies of western Nepal while FSP is
also fielding many candidates in Eastern Nepal, as well, where they hope to win
some seats under the FPTP.
The ANP (representing Chhetris) and RSP (representing hill Brahmins)
support ‘Akhanda’ (undivided) Western region and are against ethnicity-based
federalism, whereas the FSPN, representing Janajatis, stands for ethnic
identity-based federalism. Most of the FSP leaders resigned from UML. The FSPN may win some Janajati dominated
constituencies of the UCPN (M), NC and UML as many Janajatis affiliated to
these three major parties have switched to the FSPN, which is active in the
East and West.
Even if some of these new parties do not win FPTP seats, they
will limit the NC and UML’s prospects where the parties could have marginal
wins. In the PR system, these parties will likely win multiple seats which would
have a direct bearing on the # of PR seats for the major parties.
PR Lists: The
Election Commission scrapped 302 candidates under the PR category for not
meeting the criteria. Following these
decisions, there are now 10,709 candidates from
122 political parties who will contest the PR electoral system. Of the total PR
candidates, 50.6% are male and 49.4% female, i.e., 5,418 male candidates and
5,291 women candidates.
The EC annulled 148 PR candidates who did not meet the
minimum age requirement of 25 years to be a CA member. Similarly, 76 PR
candidates lost their candidacies because their names were not in the new
electoral rolls and 48 were disqualified as their names figured in the closed
list of two different political parties. Likewise, the EC removed 19 PR
candidates who were in the closed lists of two different political parties
under both the FPTP and PR electoral systems and 4 candidates for continuing to
hold public office. According to
the EC, most of the PR candidates whose candidacies annulled were women
candidates.
Six candidates of different parties withdrew their
candidacies. With the removal of 3 candidates, the number of UCPN-M candidates
is now 332, with 166 male and an equal number of female candidates. The EC
removed two candidates of UML, so the party now has 168 male and 165 women
candidates. With disqualification of its one candidate, the number of NC PR
candidates now stands at 334, with candidacy divided equally among both
genders.
Former deputy PM Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar MPRF-D lost
candidacies of 64 PR candidates not in line with the existing electoral laws.
According to the EC, out of the 80 candidates not in the electoral rolls, 59
represented MPRF-D. The EC disqualified candidacies of 5 PR candidates of RPP
Nepal. There are 167 males and 163 women candidates of the pro-monarchy party.
Constituency
by Constituency
Arghakhanchi
1: NC Dr. Ram Bahadur
BC and UCPN-M Top Bahadur Rayamajhi are competing.
Arghakhanchi 2: There have been a high number of EC complaints lodged against UML
candidate Dr. Duman Singh Thapa for excessive expenditure. Such complaints have been noted
elsewhere, as well.
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Baglung: In the 2008 election, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and the
anti-federalist party Rastriya Janamorcha (RJ), each won one seat. Analysts say there will be a tough
contest among the three major parties and RJ. Rival parties admit that the RJ will get a large vote under
the PR list.
Baglung 1: UCPN-M Krishna KC, UML Hira KC, NC
Hari Bahadur Khadka and RJ Tirtha Singh Thapa Chhetri are set for a tough
battle. UCPN-M, it is said, has an
edge as RJ is not as strong as it used to be. UML won this seat in 2008.
Baglung 2: RJ Chairman Chitra Bahadur KC has
not lost here since 1991; however, he is not running for the FPTP in 2013.
Instead RJ has fielded Rajendra Dhungana who will compete against UCPN-M Lila
Bahadur Thapa Magar, UML Surya Pathak and NC Prakash Sharma Poudel. In 2008, KC
won with 12,524 votes, while Mani Bhadra Sharma NC got 11,975 votes. With KC not contesting, the UML has
fielded its first candidate in 22 years. This has been an RJ stronghold, but
the party’s influence may be declining.
Baglung 3: NC secured victory in 2008. In 2013 NC Gyan Kumari Chhantyal, UML
Shanti Adhikari, RJ Dharma Bahadur Kunwar are competing. The constituency may
go to either NC or UCPN-M.
Baitadi 1: Four-time ex-PM Lokendra Bahadur Chand, 73, is contesting from
both constituencies in his home district under FPTF representing RPP. Chand was in the last CA through PR. He was PM from 1983-1986, briefly April
1990, briefly in 1997 and from October 2002-June 2003.
In 2008, the UCPN-M won both
constituencies. In 2013, the likely
contenders are: Narendra Bahadur Kunwar, UCPN-M, Lokraj Awasthi, NC, and
Damodar Bhandari, CPN-UML
Baitadi 2: Renu Chand, UCPN-M, Nar Bahadur
Chand, NC, and Mahadev Bhatt, UML, are contesting with Chand, RPP.
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Bajhang: There is a close competition
among the UCPN-M, NC and the UML.
UML Karna Thapa says although the election
is about a new constitution, the villagers, instead, spoke about development
issues while he was canvassing. NC Man Bahadur Rawal says roads are his
priority as they lead to all-round development. For UCPN-M Sahadev Bogati roads
are also her priority as the Bajhang district headquarters Martadi is not
linked to a road network yet.
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Banke 1:
Banke 2: Dinesh Chandra Yadav, UML, and
Bidhya Sharma, Rastriya Madhes Samajwadi Party, are contesting from this
constituency.
Banke 3: NC President Sushil Koirala is competing from his home
district against Damodar Acharya from UCPN-M and former chairman of the
Nepalganj Chamber of Commerce, Bijaya Dhital from UML, Dhaval Shumsher Rana
former Nepalganj mayor and RPP candidate, as well as Pashupati Dahal Mishra of
TMLP. This will be a fascinating
race to observe.
Sushil Koirala has won twice and lost
twice in his political career. He
was defeated in 2008 from Banke by Saradev Prasad Ojha of MJF and only managed
to come in third position at that time.
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Bara: In 2008 among the six Bara constituencies, the Madhesi
parties won 3, UCPN (Maoist) won 2 and NC 1. The Madhesi parties came in second in two of the other
constituencies.
Bara 1: Saroj Kumar Yadav of Sadhbhawana was elected in 2008 with
8,182 votes. He obtained 304 more votes than Ram Babu Prasad Yadav of
MJF/N. The UCPN (M) had 7,513
votes.
Bara 2: The MJF/N candidate lost the election by 407 votes in
2008.
Bara 3: Pramod Prasad Gupta, MJF/N leader, was elected from
here in 2008.
Bara 4: Jitendra Sonal, General Secretary of TMDP, won last
time and is running again in 2013.
Bara 5: Umakanta Chaudhary of NC won in 2008.
Bara 6: Jaya Ram Dahal of UCPN (M) won in 2008.
Bardiya 1: Bamdev Gautam, UML senior leader, is
competing against two Tharu candidates in this heavily Tharu populated
district, Bhuvan Kumar Tharu from UCPN-M and Bhuwaneshwor Chaudhary from NC.
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Bhaktapur 1: NWPP leader Narayan Man Bijukchhe is
running from his traditional stronghold against UCPN-Maoist Sanu Suwal, UML
Raju Napit and NC Krishna Lal Bhandel. All the main candidates come from the Newari community.
Bhaktapur 2: NC Rameshwor Prasad Dhungel is contesting
against NWPP Sunil Prajapati, UML Mahesh Basnet and UCPN-M Devi Dhakal.
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Bhojpur: In
the two constituencies, 28
candidates are competing from 17 parties -- there were only 8 parties running
in 2008. 14 parties have filed in Constituency 1 and 13 in Constituency 2. Among the 17 parties, only 4 are
competitive, UCPN-M, NC, UML and FSP (Sanghiya Samajbadi). Although UCPN-M won in both constituencies in 2008, this time
the party will struggle as FSP will offer a strong rivalry. The Limbuwan and CPN-M poll boycott may
also be influential.
The district has some 91,000 voters.
Constituency 1 has 32 VDCs with 46,000 voters and Constituency 2 has 45,000
voters in 31 VDCs.
Bhojpur 1: UCPN-M has fielded Khemraj Nepali Arun, NC Dharma Raj Rai,
CPN-UML Kripashur Sherpa and FSP Ajambar Kangmang Rai.
Bhojpur 2: Except for UCPN-M Sudan Rai and UML Sherdhan Rai, the others
are new candidates, including NC Balkrishna Thapa and FSP Ash Kumar Rai. Sudan
Rai UCPN-M won in 2008 and is confident of his victory again. NC has never won
in the district.
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Chitwan 1:
Chitwan 2:
Chitwan 3:
Chitwan 4: NC
President Sushil Koirala is competing against UCPN-M Chitra Bahadur Shrestha,
who won here last time, UML Dil Kumari Parbati Rawal, a woman candidate, and an
NC insurgent-independent Bikash Koirala.
Koirala is the likely winner here, but it is too close to call.
Dadeldhura:
Ex-PM Sher Bahadur Deuba has won every election from here after 1990 and is
most likely to win again. Deuba became Home Minister after the general election
in 1991. Then he was reelected in the 1994, 1999 and 2008 elections. Deuba has
also served as a Prime Minister three times, infamously dismissed by King
Gyenendra in 2005 as ‘incompetent’.
He is competing in his favored home constituency against UML Tara Prasad
Joshi and UPCN-M Khagaraj Bhatta.
Deuba will win easily here.
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Dang 1: NC has fielded Parbati DC Chaudhari
where Lila Ram Khanal filed his candidacy as a rebel NC candidate. Rumors say
that NC leader Khum Bahadur Khadka, who once dominated Dang politics, has been
supporting the rebel Khanal. The UML has fielded Rewati Raman Sharma who
garnered 4,692 votes and stood third in 2008 when Maoist Indra Jeet Tharu was
elected with 18,093 votes. Now Indra Jeet has joined the CPN-M and is active in
poll boycotting. People believe NC rebel candidate Khanal will benefit the
UCPN-M. Yogendra Tharu claimed MPRF-D will win as the Tharu and Madhesis will
vote for a Tharuhat province.
Dang 2: Shanta Chaudhary, ex-kamaiya (bonded
laborer), who won in 2008 from UML is running again in 2013.
Dang 3:
UML Laxman Aryal, NC Raju Khanal, and UCPN-M Nirmal Acharya are in the fray
from where UCPN leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara was elected with some 20.000
votes in 2008.
Dang 4:
There is an ego clash between two UML party secretaries - Shankar Pokarel and
Yubaraj Gyawali. Pokharel, who was fielded under the PR in 2008, is now an FPTP
candidate while Gyawali, who was an FPTP candidate in the last CA, is now a PR
candidate. Gyawali alleges Pokharel betrayed him in the last CA, resulting in
party’s loss. NC Budhi Raj Bhandari and UCPN-M Ramji Chaudhary are expected to
give a tough competition to Pokharel.
Dang 5:
There will be a tripartite competition among the NC, UML and UCPN-M. In 2008 the Maoist candidate Sushma
Sharma won with 17,061 votes. This year UCPN-M has fielded Dhiraj Serpali while
Uttam Kumar Wali is the UML candidate. The NC candidate Dipak Giri is also running
again from the same constituency. The
constituency has many Tharu voters.
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Dhading 1: The
Maoists won this seat in 2008, although RPP is trying to upstage UCPN-M this
year.
RPP Buddhiman Tamang candidate won elections the last 25 years, except
in 2008 when he did not contest.
UML is said to be weak due to the presence
of Federal Socialist Party.
Dhading 2:
The Maoists won this seat in 2008.
Dhading 3: This
will be a battle between 2008 winner UCPN-M Shalikram Jamkattel and UML Rajendra
Pande. NC has fielded Buddha Laxmi Lama to try to appeal to this
Tamang-dominated constituency.
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Dhanusha 1: UCPN-M and NC appear stronger than the Madhes parties or
UML. UCPN-M Ramchandra Jha, who was a UML politburo member until he very
publicly quit over federalism issues, is running. He and NC Dinesh Prasaila will still have serious competition
from the UML Ratna Prasad Goit and independent candidate Jog Kumar Barbariya
Yadav from UPCN-M. Jha’s defection
to UCPN-M will cost UML votes.
Dhanusha 2: A triangular competition is expected among
NC, UML and UCPN-M.
Dhanusha 3: NC
Bimalendra Nidhi has an uphill task to maintain his famous father’s winning
streak in this constituency.
Dhanusha 4:
Candidates rather than parties will affect poll results here. NC Ram Saroj Yadav, TMDP Brikhes Chandra
Lal Karna and Sadbhavana Sanjaya Kumar Sah are competing. Sah won in 2008 from the MJF-N party.
Dhanusha 5:
TMDP Anita Yadav is said to have an edge over others. This is where President
Ram Baran Yadav won in 2008. However, UML Raghubir Mahaseth successfully claimed
this constituency in the by-election.
Dhankuta 1: FSP Rakam Chemjong, UCPN-M Hemraj Bhandari, NC Ajit Narayan
Singh Thapa and UML Tikaram Chemjong are all competing.
Dhankuta 2: Sunil Bahadur Thapa, RPP, son of
former PM Surya Bahadur Thapa, UML Rajendra Rai and NC Aananda Santoshi Rai are
contenders.
Dolakha-1 and 2: Competition I expected among the major
three parties. The UCPN-M, analysts believe, may lose both of the
constituencies with NC having a stronger chance in 2013.
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Dolpa: Dhan Bahadur Budha, UML, is running in
the only constituency in the district.
Due to the size of the district, some sites require
three days of travel to reach the more isolated polling locations. There are 15 polling centers in the six
most remote VDCs. In Dho VDC there
are only nine voters. There are
14,860 registered voters throughout the district. The EC plans to use helicopters to bring voting material to
the six most remote VDCs in Upper Dolpa.
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Gorkha 1:
Baburam Bhattarai of UCPN-M is competing in his native district from a new
constituency than in the 2008 election when he won with over 46,000 votes in
Gorkha 2 (more than seven times his closest rival). His opponents this time include Kiran Babu Shrestha from NC
and Ram Sharan Basnet of UML.
Shrestha is a very popular local candidate. Parvati Thapa who won here in 2008 is now in the Baidya
Maoist party. There could be a surprise here for Dr. Bhattarai in 2013.
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Humla: Due to snow in mid-November, the more
remote VDCs are almost unreachable except by helicopter. Election officials and materials,
therefore, have been stranded in these locations.
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Ilam 1: Jhala
Nath Khanal has won 3 out of 4 elections here since 1991 and is running for the
fifth time. He won in 2008 with
17,655 votes. This year he is against
Himalaya Karmacharya of the NC, Yuba Kumar Poudel of the UCPN-M, Devendra Rai
of the FSP-N, and 74-year Bhakta Kumari Gadal, a Dalit from RPP.
The constituency is dominated by Janajtis, therefore the
Federal Socialist Party Nepal has a strong presence in Ilam. Many UML cadres
defected to FSP blaming Khanal for not supporting identity federalism. There
are 59,814 registered voters here.
Ilam 2:
Most parties have fielded Janajati candidates. Along with UML Subhas Nembang,
who won in 2008 with 17,748 votes, there are 8 Janajati candidates running in
2013. It is said that those in
favor of identity-based federalism oppose Nembang, so there could be a
surprise.
Ilam 3:
the UML has fielded Tek Bahadur Rai. His rivals are Keshav Thapa of NC,
Dhirendra Sharma of UCPN-M and Dhal Bahadur Gurung of FSP-N. NC’s Kul Bahadur Guurng was elected
previously with 16,286 votes. UML’s
Dharma Prasad Upreti finished second with 14,695 votes.
In total, there are 39 candidates from 17 parties
contesting from the two constituencies of Ilam.
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Jhapa 1: UML
Rabin Koirala and NC Bishwa Prakash Sharma are contesting.
Jhapa 2:
Jhapa 3:
Jhapa 4: UCPN (M) Purushottam Chudel is
contesting.
Jhapa 5:
Jhapa 6:
Jhapa 7: UML leader KP Sharma Oli is running
from his home district where he lost to a UCPN-M district-level leader in 2008.
Since then, Oli has been
continuously interacting with voters, which is a marked departure from 2008. Gopal
Kiranti of UCPN-M and NC local leader Suresh Kumar Yongya Subba are his major
rivals. Kiranti, who won from Solukhumbu last time, has been projected as an
outsider in the district. NC Subba is likely to be the major contender for
Oli. UCPN-M Bishwadeep Lingden,
who defeated Oli last time, has joined the FSP.
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Jumla:
There are 47,445 voters registered in the single constituency of Jumla. Many voters from the Sinja Valley have
already departed due to the cold and snow of November.
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Kailali 1:
Kailali 2:
Kailali 3:
Kailali 4: Nabaraj Acharya, the candidate of Nepal Aama
Samuha, has joined the Maoists.
Kailali 5: The competition is between
Lekh Raj Bhatta, ex-CA MP from UCPN-M, and Dirgha Raj Bhat from NC. Last time
Bhatta defeated Bhat by only 1,200 votes. This time Bhat seems stronger as
Bhatta has been criticized by the Akhand Suder Paschim (United Far West)
Movement for supporting a Tharuhat federal state and also challenged by the Baidhya
group.
Kailali 6: In Dhangadhi, the district
center of Kailali, the competition is among UML Maheshwor Pathak, NC Sher
Bahadur Dueba and CPN-M Lila Kumari Bhandari, a woman. Deuba is contesting from Kailali for
the first time while the UCPN-M won this seat in 2008. Pathak has a clean image, is a local
and was a former MP (2054). Maoist Bhandari won the last election but this time
she suffers from the party’s internal conflict. Altogether 30 candidates are running for this seat. It’s
likely that most of the vote will be divided among the major political parties
with the rest shared among MJF-D, FDNF (Tharuhat), RPP-N and Akhand.
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Kanchanpur 1:
Kanchanpur 2:
Kanchanpur 3:
Kanchanpur 4: NC Ramesh Lekhak, UML Urbadatta Panta,
UCPN (M) Mohan Giri and Dharmaraj Joshi of the RPP have filed their candidacies.
Of the total 46,000 voters in 13 wards of Mahendranagar
Municipality, Dodhara and Chadani VDCs have around 14,000 voters between them.
Kapilvastu 1: TMDP
candidate, Sarafat Kha, died of heart attack recently. As per the CA Member Election Directive
2070, the election must be deferred if any FPTP candidate of that constituency
dies within 15 days prior to the due poll date.
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Kaski 1:
Kaski 2:
Kaski 3: UML Rabindra Adhikari,
UCPN-M Ramji Prasad Baral (Jeevan),
NC
Soviet Bahadur Adhikari and RPP-N
Prem Bahadur Malla are the main
candidates.
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Kathmandu 1: NC Vice-president Prakash Man Singh, son of the late NC leader
Ganesh Man Singh, is running again from a relatively safe NC constituency. His rivals are UCPN-M Renu Dahal,
daughter of UCPN-M chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal, and UML Bidhya Neupane. Renu is a little known youth leader of
UCPN-M. Prakash Man won in 2008 with 14,318 votes against 6,789 for UML leader
Pradeep Nepal. Ram Man Shrestha of
UCPN-M had 4,836 votes at that time.
Kathmandu 2: UML Madhav Kumar Nepal is contesting
again where he lost to a little known Maoist candidate in 2008. The former PM is
locked in a fight with UCPN-M’s Lila Mani Pokhrel, who joined the UCPN-M in
2009, and NC’s female candidate Pratima Gautam. Notwithstanding
losing the CA election in two places in 2008, Madhav Nepal became PM in 2009.
Kathmandu 3: NC Chakra Bahadur Thakuri, UML
Rameshwor Phuyal and UCPN-M Ganesh Prasad Regmi are key contenders. RPP-Nepal has fielded Nepal’s famous
female singer Meera Rana.
Kathmandu 4: NC youth leader Gagan Thapa and NC Independent
Suprabha Ghimire are running
against UCPN-M ex-PLA leader Nanda Bahadur Pun and UML’s Nirmal Kuikel. Thapa and Pun are projected as
potential future leaders of their parties considering their rapid political
rise and contributions to their party, as well as national politics. Many commentators say they should not
have been running from the same constituency as both can make valuable
contributions to the nation.
Independent Suprabha Ghimire, who won this constituency in 2008, resigned from the NC
after losing the nomination to Gagan Thapa and opened a new party ‘Sanghiya
Samajbadi Loktantrik Sangathan’ (Socialist Federal Democratic Party). It is said that top NC leaders like
Prakash Man Singh and Ram Chandra Poudyal, who are less comfortable with Thapa,
are supporting Ghimire.
Kathmandu 5:
Candidates include NC Narhari Acharya, UML Ishwor Pokhrel, UCPN-M Mahendra
Shrestha, TMDP Radha Krishna Karki, Rajbir Dangol of the Nepal Majdoor Kisan
Party and Ujjwal Thapa, an independent, among the 10 people contesting. A tough fight is expected between Narhari
Acharya and Ishwor Pokharel.
Shrestha is also considered strong locally.
In 2008 the number of voters
were 62,936 while total votes cast were 38,984. In that election, NC Acharya won with 13,245 votes, while
UML Pokhrel had 9,120, followed by UCPN-M Maharjan 8,089, RPP-Nepal Kamal Thapa
with 3,925 and CPN-ML Khatri with 1,022.
This constituency includes Kathmandu Metropolitan City
(KMC) wards 2, 3, 4 and 5 plus five semi-rural VDCs, Tokha Saraswati, Tokha
Chandeshwori, Dhapasi, Khadka Bhadrakali and Budanilkantha. The PM´s official
residence comes under the constituency. There are 55,377 registered voters in
2013. It is considered less
developed than other Kathmandu constituencies.
Kathmandu 6: Himal Sharma of UCPN-M, Bhimsen Das
Pradhan of NC, Yogesh Bhattarai of UML, Keshav Sthapit of FSPN and Nim Bahadur
Budhamagar of Rastriya Janamorcha are contesting.
Sharma, from Baglung, is chair of the UCPN-M student
wing and Bhattarai, from Taplejung, a UML central committee member. Three candidates -- Sharma, Bhattarai
and Sthapit -- were once with CPN-ML led by Bamdev Gautam. Bhattarai was head
of the student wing, while Sharma was treasurer. Later, before the party reunified
with the CPN-UML, Sharma joined the underground Maoist party before the
reunification between CPN-UML and CPN-ML.
In the 2008 polls Hitman
Shakya of the CPN-M won with 10,768 votes
but he is now with the Baidya Maoists.
Bhimsendas Pradhan NC earned 10,058
votes and Yogesh Bhattarai UML 9,089.
The constituency includes: Sangla, Jhor Mahankal, Kavresthali, Dharmasthali,
Phutung, Manamaiju, Gongabu, plus KMC wards 29, 30, 31.
Kathmandu 7: All candidates of major parties are from the local Newar
community. They include: Hsila Yami of UCPN-M,
Ranbir Manandhar of UML, Pramila Devi Singh Dongol of NC, Bharat Bdr Malakar of TMDP,
Lalitman Shrestha of MJF-N and Yogendra Das Shrestha of MJF-D. Nine other political parties, including three Madhes parties
have fielded candidates. However, the competition will likely remain confined
to UCPN-M, UML and NC candidates
In 2008, Hsila Yami got 12,276
votes while her rival Rajendra Shrestha UML secured 8,815 votes.
This constituency
includes: Paknajole,
Nayabajar, Samakhushi, Chhetrapati, Dhobichour, Yatkhabahal, Ashon, Jyatha,
Indrachowk, Bangemudha Ichangu Narayan, Goldhunga, Jitpurfedi, as well as KMC
wards 16, 17, 18, 28.
Kathmandu 8: NC Nabindra Raj Joshi confronts UML Jiwan Ram Shrestha and
UCPN-M Mukti Narayan Pradhan. Joshi was elected in 2008.
Kathmandu 9: in 2008 Dhyan Govinda Ranjit NC won with 209
votes against Maila Lama Tamang UCPN-M. UML Krishna Gopal Shrestha finished
third and lost with 309 votes. Maila Lama Tamang is not contesting this time as
he joined the Baidhya-led CPN-Maoist.
In 2013 the candidates include Devendra
Poudel, originally from Baglung and past advisor of Babu Ram Bhattarai, of the
UCPN-M, NC Dhyan Govinda Ranjit and UML Krishna Gopal Shrestha. They are the main candidates. Others include Rastriya Janamorcha, Lal Bdr Thapa,
FSP Radha Krishna Maharjan, Akhanda Nepal Bhanuraj Pandey, TMDP Shant Maharjan,
MJF-N Rajiv Yadav, RPP-Nepal Devendra Pradhan, MJF-D Kavindra Rijal, RPP
Gyaneshwor Bhattarai and NWPP Guna Das Maharjan.
The Constituency has 8 VDCs: Bhim
Dhunga, Dahachowk, Ramkot, Balambu, Syuchatar, Naikap Naya, Naikap Purano and
Thinthana, and four wards (22, 21, 12 and 14). Total voters is 57,957.
Kathmandu 10: In 2008, Pushpa Kamal Dahal CPN-M received 23,277 votes, Rajendra Kumar KC of NC received 12,154, while UML’s Sanu
Kumar Maharjan garnered 8,568 votes.
Puspha Kamal Dahal is running again while the NC is represented by local leader
Rajendra Kumar (Rajan) KC, who was defeated by Dahal last time. The UML has
selected Surendra Manandhar. Former Maoist combatant Padam
Kunwar, who is famous for having slapped Dahal, has launched a campaign, too.
Kunwar is accompanied by former husband of student leader Bina Magar, Shankar
Adhikary, and has been working hard to defeat Dahal.
Dahal will be hard to
defeat in this constituency, but likely to receive fewer votes than in 2008.
This constituency includes 12 VDCs including Machhegaun,
Satungal, Matatirtha, Badbhanjyang, Thankot and Mahadevsthan in the west and
Chalnakhel, Sheshnarayan, Setidevi, Chhaimale, Dakshinkali, Talkududechaur at
the southern belt besides Kirtipur Municipality.
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Kavre 1:
The Maoists won here in 2008.
Kavre 2: The MJF-D is trying its hand with its
candidate Ganesh Lama, while NC and UML seek to wrest control from the UCPN-M.
The UCPN-M has repeated its previous candidate Akkal Bahadur Thing while NC
has fielded Shiva Prasad Humagain and UML offered Ramhari Subedi.
UML won this
constituency in 2008 and will try to keep it safe.
Kavre 3: A triangular
competition is expected among the big three parties..
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Khotang 1: The NC is expected to give the
UCPN-M a run for its money this year.
UCPN-M has fielded new faces in Constituencies 1 and 2 — Durga Jayanti
Rai and Devan Kiranti — instead of Ram Kumar Rai and Samita Karki who won the
2008 election.
Khotang 2: The major contenders will be NC and
UML. Subhas Pokharel is running
from NC.
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Lalitpur 1: NC
youth wing leader Udaya Shamsher Rana is contesting where he lost in 2008 with
a narrow margin of 1,318 votes. The other candidates include: Hari Dahal UCPN-M, Madhusudhan Poudel
UML and Keshar Bahadur Bista RPP.
Barsha Man Pun, UCPN-M leader, won here in 2008 but is contesting from
Morang in 2013.
Lalitpur 2: The defection of Raj Kaji Maharjan
to the CPN-M has weakened the UCPN-M chances of repeating their 2008 victory
here in 2013.
Lalitpur: 3: UML leader Raghuji Panta, NC Madan
Bahadur Amatya and UCPN-M Dinesh Maharjan are contesting.
Also, Bishnulal Gurung, who goes by the name of Jack, is a candidate
of the United People"s Front of Nepal (UPFN). Standing only 3.4 feet, he is probably the shortest candidate
in the CA election – but still unlikely to win.
Pampha Bhusal won here in
2008. She has also joined with the
poll boycotting CPN-M and not contesting in 2013.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lamjung 1:
Lamjung 2: The day before the election, the EC scrapped the candidacy
of FSP (Sanghiya Ganatantrik Samajwadi) Gam Bahadur Tamang.
Tamang was
disqualified because he is a GoN employee at the Manang District Post Office. Tamang, however, insists that he has
only been a contract staff, therefore, eligible to compete in the election.
Mahottari 1: Rastriya Madhes Samajbadi Party
Chairman Sharat Singh Bhandari will try to defeat UCPN-M Giriraj Mani Pokhrel.
Mahottari 2: MJF-N Harinarayan Yadav will
compete against NC Kiran Yadav, the niece of President Ram Baran Yadav. Kiran Yadav
has a good chance, analysts say.
Makwanpur
2: Narayan Kaji Shrestha of UCPN-M is
competing against Jayaram Lamichhane of NC and Subas Chandra Thakuri of UML. CPN-M Prem Bahadur Pulami won this
constituency in 2008 with nearly 17,000 votes. Narayan Kaji’s former Janamorcha Nepal came in third that
year with only 3,000 votes, but now united with the UCPN-M Shrestha has a chance
of winning this year. However,
both Lamichhane and Thakuri are known for the development initiatives they have
brought to the area, so they will put up a good fight against the UCPN-M
leader.
Makwanpur
4: Chepangs
here have asked candidates to provide them with land ownership certificates as
they have been residing in the forest and along rivers historically without
such documents. Chepangs are a
majority in 4 of the 12 VDCs in this constituency. The constituency of 39,801
registered voters has a total of 12,000 Chepang voters. NFIN has classified
Chepangs as a highly marginalized group.
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Manang: Tripal P. Gurung is running from the
RPP party.
This is a single constituency with the smallest voting
population in any constituency.
There are only 6,538 people living in Manang while 4,795 are
voters. Because of the late date
of the election, many inhabitants have already left the district for warmer
climes.
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Morang 1: A likely battle between NC Amod Prasad Upadhyay and UML
Rishikesh Pokharel.
Morang 2: The competition is between UCPN-M Kumar
Paudel and UML Chandi Prasad Rai. NC Shekhar Chandra Thapa and FSP Bhuraj Rai will
seek to challenge UCPN-M and UML.
Morang 3: UCPN-M Khem Bhattarai, NC Dilip
Gachhadar and UML Guru Baral are competing.
Morang 4: UCPN-M Shiva Kumar Mandal will fight
against NC Gayananda Mandal.
Morang 5: MJF-Nepal Chairman and ex-Foreign
Minister Upendra Yadav is campaigning against NC Amrit Kumar Aryal. UCPN-M
Baleswor Kamat too can pose a hurdle to Yadav in this constituency. Ram Lal Sah
is running from UML.
Morang 6: NC Mahesh Acharya, MJF-N Mutujaya
Jha and MJF-D Bhakti Majhi are in the fray. Mahesh Acharya is a former Minister of Finance under earlier
Congress governments in the 90s.
Morang 7: The main contenders are two heavyweights NC leader Dr
Shekhar Koirala and MJF-D Chairman Bijay Kumar Gachhadar. UML has pitted Yashoda Adhikari
and Gopal Chhetri from UCPN-M against these two powerful party leaders. This will be an interesting election to
watch.
Morang 8: The contest is between the major
three parties.
Morang 9: MJF-D Chairman Bijay Gachhadar is contesting the election
from Sunsari 3, as well.
Mugu: This remote Karnali Region district has 23,821 total registered
voters. There are 52 polling
stations, but some will be badly affected by the cold and snow in
November. Some villagers have
already departed for warmer parts of Nepal before the election.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mustang: There is a
single constituency district, too. NC Romi Gauchan Thakali, UML Chandra Mohan Gauchan and
UCPN-M Motung Gurung are competing. Gurung, a former UML leader, joined the
UCPN-M days before EC’s deadline. NC
Gauchan also faces a rebel candidacy.
Upper Mustang includes Chosher,
Shonhup, Lomanthang, Charang and Gharmi VDCs at an altitude of 4200 m. Upper
Mustang has 6,942 voters and six polling stations, but not more than 1,000 potential
voters remain in the villages. Most have moved to avoid frigid weather. Almost 60%
have moved to Kathmandu, Pokhara, Myagdi, Butwal and Bhairahawa.
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Myagdi: UCPN-M Lokendra Bista is running
against NC Khambir Garbuja, UML Nawaraj Sharma
and
RPP Bhim Prasad Gauchan, a former minister. Though the
constituency went to the Maoists in 2008, this time, they may face more difficulty
due to the split in the party. A Federal Socialist Party (FSP) candidate Yam
Kishan is also competing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nawalparasi: Many of the votes cast in the previous polls were invalid
due to a lack of voter education. Of the total 273,671 votes cast in the
previous polls, 141,100 votes were invalid.
The NC candidate Dev Karan Kalwar was
defeated by Vice-chair of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party, Hridesh Tripati.
Nawalparasi 1:
Nawalparasi 2: There are 21 candidates contesting
polls under the FPTP system, including Som Bahadur Tamang, Federal Republican
Party Nepal.
The Constituency comprises 14 VDCs
and has over 52,000 registered voters.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nuwakot 1: This will be an interesting election to observe as UCPN-M Bimala
Subedi defeated NC heavyweight Arjun Narsingh KC by 7,597 votes in 2008. Both
are running again, along with RPP Prakash Chandra Lohani and UML Keshav Pande. RPP’s Lohani won here regularly between
2048 to 2056 BS. In 2008, Lohani
was a PR candidate.
The constituency comprises 20 VDCs
and has 55,212 registered voters.
Nuwakot 2: In 2008 NC Ram Sharan Mahat piped
CPN-M Hit Bahadur Tamang by 104 votes. This time both parties have fielded the
same candidates and a tough competition is awaited. Mahat, a former Finance Minister, is very influential in this
constituency, but the UCPN-M Hit Man Tamang will appeal to the large Tamang
community living here.
The constituency comprises 23 VDCs
and has over 50,000 registered voters.
Nuwakot 3: In 2008, UCPN-M Post Bdr Bogati defeated NC Bahadur Singh
Lama by 1,640 votes. In 2013 the NC has fielded Lama again while UML has
nominated district chairperson Narayan Prasad Khatiwada. Bogati may have less chance because of
the large Tamang population.
The constituency comprises Bidur municipality,
18 VDCs and has 49,356 registered voters.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okhaldhunga: Odds are against the UCPN-M, so either NC or UML is likely
to emerge victorious.
Parbat 1: NC
Arjun Kumar Joshi, UML Ganesh Timsina, UCPN-M Netra Adhikari and Rastriya Janamorcha
Govind Poudel are competing. In 2008, NC claimed this constituency.
Parbat 2: UCPN-M is the likely beneficiary from
disputes in NC and UML over ticket distribution. UCPN-M Rajkaji Gurung, former CA member, is contesting
against NC Nawaraj Gurung and UML Bikash Lamsal. All three candidates are locals. 36 year-old Rajkaji is popular among the youth.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pyuthan 1: The Rastriya Janamorcha (RJ), an
anti-federalism party, has had a stronghold in this district in recent years. Bamdev Gautam, UML leader, is competing
against UCPN-M Nawaraj Subedi and NC Hukum Bahadur Bista.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ramechhap: Competition will be among the top three
parties with the UCPN-M, which won in 2008, likely to lag behind this time.
Rasuwa: There is only VDC in the constituency,
Lantang. Most of the locals live
in Kathmandu or warmer places. Due to lack of direct road links, helicopters
are the only transport in the district. “We couldn´t risk going to the VDC [due
to the Maoist threats] but we will surely receive maximum votes,” said NC
candidate Lama Karpu Tamang.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rauthat 1: UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal is
contesting from his home district again even though he lost in 2008 to a less
familiar Maoist candidate from Rauthat 6.
This time he is competing from Rauthat 1. Anil Kumar Jha, chairman of Federal Sadbhavana Party, and
Ajay Gupta of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic are likely to seriously
challenge MK Nepal. UCPN-M has
nominated Rajkishor Yadav and NC has selected Santatal Sah.
Rautahat 2:
Rautahat 3: UCPN-M leader Prabhu Sha and MJF-M
leader Ram Kishore Prasad Yadav are vying from this constituency.
Rauthat 4:
Rautahat 5:
Rautahat 6:
Rolpa 1: In 2008, Jayapuri Gharti defeated
her closest rival from NC by nearly 31,000 votes. In 2013, UCPN (Maoist) leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara is
contesting. Mahara is
facing a tough election battle as his main rival is NC Lekhnath Acharya, who
has good relations at the local level. Balaram Ghartimagar from RPP is also
contesting. Given that this was
the Moaist base area, the Mohan Baidya Maoists are intent on disrupting the
election as much as possible here.
Rolpa 2: Onsari Gharti Magar of the UCPN (M), Bhim Kumari Budha of NC
and Kumar Dasaudi of the CPN-UML are contesting. Former lawmakers from the district, Jayapuri Gharti and
Santosh Budha, have joined the CPN-Maoist. The Mohan Baidya Maoists have chased Onsari and her
supporters out of the district when they tried to campaign.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rukum 1: Young
Communist League Chairman Ganesh Man Pun is running from here.
Rukum 2: In 2008, the UCPN’s Janardan Sharma
gained three times more votes than his nearest opponent. Sharma received 30,270
votes against NC’s Prem Prakash Oli’s 9,250. In 2013 Sharma is again running,
but his opponents appear stronger, including former NC state minister Gopalji
Jung Shah and Thagendra Prakash Puri, Rukum UML district chair.
Rupandehi
1:
Rupandehi
2: Devi Psd Chaudhary MJF-D is running and given a reasonable
chance against the main three parties.
Rupandehi
3:
Rupandehi
4: UCPN-M party leader Baburam
Bhattarai is contesting where in the 2008 UML Secretary Bishnu Poudel won. UML
has nominated Poudel again in 2013. NC candidate Surya Prasad Pradhan has
contributed to Butwal’s development and was elected in the last parliamentary
election. Butwal is the gateway to
Lumbini, birthplace of the Buddha.
This will be a close election and could go any way according to
observers.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sankhuwasabha
1:
Sankhuwasabha
2: UCPN-M
Rajendra Kiranti is running.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saptari 1:
Saptari 2: Birbal Biraji Yadav, a septuagenarian,
who contested in 1958/59 for the NC, is once again in the fray. Now 79, Biraji was not even 25 when he
lost to Durgananda Chaudhary of Gorkha Parishad by 107 votes. This time he is
again representing the NC. His election rivals are Shailendra Chandra Jha of
UML and Ashok Kumar Mandal of UCPN-M.
MRPF-N Jaya Prakah Prasad Gupta won in 2008 and became a
government minister. Locals say
Gupta did not bother to return once he won the election. Fed up with leaders
who only visit during elections, some voters say they will sell their votes
this time.
The area is extremely remote. People have to cross four rivers to reach Gobargada VDC
located 12 km southwest of Rajbiraj.
The VDC had 1,600 voters in the 2008 election, however, there are only
550 voters now. Most women do not
have citizenship certificates. It
is said the isolated VDC is used by Nepali and Indian criminals as a safe
haven.
Saptari 3:
Saptari 4:
Saptari 5:
Saptari 6: Last time winner Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav of MJF-D will be
challenged by his own brother Aniruddha Kumar of MJF-N. In 2008 MJF-Nepal Renu Kumari Yadav won from Saptari because Yadav
candidates from rival parties supported her.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarlahi 1: UML
Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal will compete against NC Sushila Karki and UCPN-M
Shambhu Lal Shrestha. Khanal is
running from Ilam 1, too. Rival parties describe Khanal as an outsider so his
loyalists have offered him land in the district. In an effort to win the hearts
and minds of Madhesi voters, Khanal wore Madhesi attires during his recent 9 day
stay in the Tarai.
Shambhu Lal Shrestha of UCPN-M and Ramchandra Kusahawa
of Tarai Madhes Sadbhavana Party are Khanal’s major rivals. As this is a stronghold of the UML,
Khanal is likely to win.
Sarlahi
2:
Sarlahi
3: TMDP won last time, but one of the major parties could make
inroads in 2013.
Sarlahi
4: Rajendra Mahato of SP will compete.
Sarlahi
5:
Sarlahi
6: Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Chair Mahanth Thakur is competing
with NC candidate Amresh Kumar Singh along with UCPN-M Namdalal Ray Yadav, UML female
candidate Mamta Devi Rajput and Sadbhawana Party
candidate Fakira Mahato.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sinhuli 1:
Sindhuli 2:
Sindhuli 3:
Sindhuli 4: UCPN-M might be able to wrest a seat in
here. In other constituencies, competition is expected again among three major
parties.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sindhupalchowk 1:
Sindhupalchowk 2: NC
and UML are said to be ahead here with locals saying that the UCPN-M might lose
in all three constituencies.
UCPN-M spokesperson Agni Sapkota is running
against UML Subas Karmacharya and NC Bhupendra Bahadur Thapa.
Sapkota faces
allegations that he failed to do anything for the constituency despite winning
in 2008.
Sindhupalchowk 3: Former
chairman of the Federation of Nepali Journalists Tara Nath Dahal is running for NC against UML Sher Bahadur
Tamang, UCPN-M Bil Bahadur Rayamajhi and RPP Chairman Pashupati SJB Rana.
The election may be as close as in
2008 when CPN-M Dawa Tamang defeated UML Sher Bahadur Tamang by 100 votes. RPP
Chairman Pashupati SJB Rana, who considers this his party bastion, came
third. Rana was defeated for the
first time in his 40-year political career.
Dawa Tamang is widely supported in
Ruwa, Bhotang, Gunsa and Thangpalkot VDCs so it is believed Mohan Baidya holds
2-3,000 votes as Tamang is now a CPN-M central member.
Siraha: In 2008 MJF-N won in 5 of 6
constituencies, but it may face difficulty this time given the split(s) in the
MJF over the last few years. Some say that none of the parties formed after
splitting from MJF-N stand a chance to win this time, which will benefit NC and
UML.
It has been reported that days before the election only one of
the six constituencies has received all of the required voting materials due to
the Baidya Maoist transport bandh (which has been more effective in rural areas)
and the risks of IED explosives along the roads.
Siraha
1:
Siraha
2:
Siraha
3:
Siraha
4: In the post-1990 elections, Rajdev Goit and Hem Narayan Yadav from different parties helped
each other win parliamentary election because they belonged to the same Yadav
clan.
Siraha 5: UCPN-M Pushpa Kamal Dahal is contesting
from here. Lilanath Shrestha, a local UML candidate and local NGO president
(who was funded by Save the Children US), is said to be ahead in race, which
has shocked UCPN-M. NC has
nominated Rampari Kumari Yadav, a woman candidate. The Matrika Yadav Maoist
party and the CPN-M are working hard to defeat Dahal. Although there are some alternative reports
that UML is not seriously campaigning so UCPN-M Dahal would secure an easier
win here. There may be a surprise
here.
Siraha 6:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Solukhumbu: FSP’s active
presence may inconvenience the major three parties. In this district with a
single constituency, NC Bal Bahadur KC’s chances are considered the likeliest.
KC was defeated by UCPN-M Gopal Kiranti in 2008, but Kiranti has since moved to
Jhapa.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunsari
1:
Sunsari
2:
Sunsari
3: MJF-D Chairperson Bijay Gachchhadar has won comfortably from
here in three general elections in 1992, 1994 and 1999. In 2008, Gachchhadar contesting from
the MPRF-Nepal secured a resounding victory with 23,769 votes. NC Agam Lal
Chaudhary received 10,806 votes. In 2013 he is running against UML Ms. Bhagawati
Chaudhary, who runs an NGO and is respected locally. UCPN-M has nominated Hardar Ali Miya and NC has nominated
Goma Kumari Parajuli (Ansari), a woman candidate. Gachchhedar, however, is
expected to win handily.
Sunsari
4:
Sunsari 5: MJF-N Chairperson Upendra Yadav is
running from here, but may struggle to win with MJF-D Gafar Ansari running against
him, along with UCPN-M Nanda Kumar Dutt, UML Jagadish Prasad Kusiyat and NC
Jamil Akhtar Miya. This is too
close to call before the election.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tanahu
1:
Tanahu
2: Former NC, now independent,
candidate, Purna Bahadur Gurung is contesting against established NC leader Ram
Chandra Poudyal. Poudyal won in the three elections after 1991 and secured
an easy victory in the 2008 CA election. NC has regarded the southern district,
inhabited by Gurung and Magar people, as its vote bank but the rebel NC
candidate Gurung hails from the indigenous community and may snatch a victory
here.
Given the greater importance given to identity politics,
the UML, FSP and UCPN-M have also fielded indigenous candidates. The UML
candidate is Krishna Kumar Shrestha. FSP has fielded Harihar Singh Gurung, while
the UCPN-M candidate is Om Raj Ale. Dipak Bhattarai, who served as Poudel’s PA
for a decade, is a candidate from the MPRF-D.
Party insiders say Poudyal faces problems within his own
party as NC leaders, including former State Minister for Home Affairs Govinda
Raj Joshi and former State Minister Amar Raj Kaini, are covertly supporting the
rebel candidate. Gurung alleges that Poudyal denied new leaders an opportunity
to grow as he has always fielded himself in the elections after 1991.
Paudel
won in 1994 with 22,639 votes, then won in 1999 with a total of 24,446 votes
and won again in 2008, with 18,970 votes. This time around it won’t be as easy.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Terhathum: Terhathum has only one constituency.
There will be tough fight between the top three parties, as well as a
considerable impact by the Limbuwan poll boycott.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Udayapur 1: NC leader
Narayan Khadka defeated UCPN-M Rajan Kiranti in 2008. Khadka and Kiranti are competing
against each other again in 2013. Khadka is most likely favored to win.
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