KATHMANDU, Jan 14: Surendra Bajagain, press coordinator to Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Mayor Balendra Shah (Balen), is emerging as a likely candidate in the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) election from Lalitpur–1 on a Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) ticket.
Sources within the RSP said Bajagain’s candidacy has the backing of the Mayor Balen Secretariat and the Gen Z group. “While searching for a suitable direct candidate in Lalitpur–1, Bajagain was seen as the most appropriate choice,” a party source said.
Bajagain confirmed his political ambition in a phone interview with Republica, saying he had not initially planned to enter politics but decided to run due to the unchanged political dynamics in Lalitpur–1. A permanent resident of Kaleshwar in Mahankal Rural Municipality–4, he said the constituency has long been represented by non-local candidates, often at the cost of local priorities.
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“Since 1991, leaders from outside the constituency have repeatedly won elections here, often without a deep understanding of local problems,” Bajagain said. “I want to contribute to my own soil.”
Pointing to political instability, unclear policies, and a lack of practical governance, Bajagain argued that youth leadership is now essential. Known for advocating governance reform and a new political culture, he is seen as a policy-oriented candidate grounded in grassroots realities.
Bajagain has long been active in socio-political activism and communication. Before joining KMC, he worked as a journalist with several national media outlets, including Nepal Live, Nepalwatch, Ukeraa, Routine of Nepal Banda, Baahrakhari, and Ekagaj. He has also remained engaged in social campaigns, public policy advocacy, and disaster-relief efforts.
His activism began with the Bibeksheel Nepali Party founded by late Ujwal Thapa. During the 2015 India blockade, he undertook a Kathmandu–Birgunj–Janakpur foot march to promote social harmony and bring local concerns along the Hulaki Highway into national discourse. Following the Tharuhat–Tharuwan Tikapur incident, he carried out a Kathmandu–Lumbini–Tikapur bicycle journey with a similar objective.
Beyond politics, Bajagain has been involved in humanitarian and community work, distributing relief materials through The Art of Living in several Lalitpur villages, providing warm clothes to Bhagbhairav Technical School in Kaleshwar, and supporting flood- and landslide-affected communities in Mahankal Rural Municipality. In water-scarce areas, he also helped distribute water pipes with support from partner organizations.
He has remained active in community-level development and research, working with Build Nepal to prepare a village profile of Taman Khola Rural Municipality in Baglung and supporting technical education through the ‘Ramailo Shiksha’ initiative in Sindhupalchok. He has also coordinated digital literacy programs for children and senior citizens.
Bajagain holds a bachelor’s degree in Rural Development and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Sociology at Tribhuvan University.
