KATHMANDU, March 6: Just hours after completing the nwaran (naming ceremony) of her 11-day-old son on Friday morning, Ranju Neupane (Darshana), who recently underwent surgery for childbirth, mustered the strength to visit the vote-counting venue at the Cooperative Training Centre in Baneshwar to celebrate her victory with supporters and voters.
Still physically weak and suffering from a throat infection that made speaking difficult, she said she felt compelled to personally thank the voters who supported her.
Ranju Neupane, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) candidate from Kathmandu Constituency-1, secured victory with 15,455 votes, according to Chief Returning Officer Churaman Khadka. Entering politics at the young age of 19, Ranju pledged after her victory that she would “shut the door” on those who repeatedly deceive citizens and focus on delivering results.
The election, held in a peaceful and fear-free environment under the leadership of Nepal’s first female prime minister Sushila Karki, also produced its first declared winner—a woman—Ranju herself.
According to Khadka, Kathmandu-1 has 48,489 registered voters, of whom 29,774 cast their ballots, representing a 61.40 percent turnout, while 692 votes were declared invalid.
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Ranju had drawn widespread admiration during the campaign for continuing her election outreach while nine months pregnant, with many voters describing her as a symbol of courage and determination. She said she felt proud to have received the opportunity to embrace both motherhood and political leadership.
“The results prove that voters viewed this election as particularly significant,” Ranju told supporters. “For more than three decades, political parties have repeatedly betrayed Nepali citizens.”
“Voters have now closed the door on those who kept deceiving them,” she added. “We will also shut the door on such politics and work in the interest of the people.”
Ranju acknowledged that the RSP’s sweeping victories across the country would bring greater responsibility. “The real fight begins now,” she said after receiving her certificate of election. “Over the next five years, we must work with full dedication and without distraction.”
Struggling with her sore throat, she briefly thanked voters, describing the result as “a victory for alternative and principled politics.”
During her remarks, Ranju became emotional while remembering Ujwal Thapa, a leading advocate of reformist politics in Nepal. “Today, I would like to dedicate this victory to Ujwal Thapa,” she said.
Expressing gratitude to voters, she pledged that her work over the next five years would focus solely on the interests of the country and its people.
She also noted that Kathmandu-1 holds special significance for her, which is why she chose to contest from the constituency even during pregnancy. She said the area was deeply affected by the September 9 youth protest movement, and she wanted to represent those seeking justice.
Ranju, who entered politics at the age of 17, also pledged to prioritise policies that create opportunities for young people so that they are not compelled to leave Nepal in search of work.
“Past election experiences have made me more mature, calm and resilient,” said the 29-year-old. Reflecting on motherhood, she added: “Today I am the mother of an 11-day-old child. I now understand the true value of a child. The pain of being separated from one’s children is one of the greatest pains.”
She said this realisation had strengthened her commitment to building a Nepal where young people would not be forced to migrate abroad.
“My dream is to build a Nepal that people do not leave, but a country that foreigners come to see and visit,” she said. “I will dedicate the next five years to working toward that goal.”
Ranju first entered politics at 19 and contested the Kathmandu mayoral election at the age of 21. Though she was defeated then, she has now secured a decisive victory in the 2082 House of Representatives election, marking a significant milestone in her political journey.
