KATHMANDU, Feb 1: Election activity is gradually picking up in Kathmandu Constituency No. 7, where both party-affiliated and independent candidates have intensified door-to-door campaigns and group interactions to court voters.
A total of 27 candidates, including six women, are contesting the election in the constituency, which has 67,411 registered voters, according to the Election Office. Of the six female candidates, five are independents, while one represents a political party.
Election Officer Sabita Sharma said the office is currently issuing candidate identity cards and monitoring campaign activities. “There are 17 candidates from political parties and 10 independents. Ujyaalo Party Nepal is the only party that has fielded a female candidate,” she said, adding that Bimala Lama is contesting from the party.
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The five independent female candidates are Sharmila Phuyal, Sabita Gamal, Sujita Shrestha, Suman Putuwar Maharjan, and Anjala Bajracharya.
Although 28 candidates initially filed nominations, independent candidate Dr Ramsharan Thapaliya later withdrew, reducing the final number to 27.
Major party candidates include Pramod Hari Guragain from the Nepali Congress, Prakash Shrestha from CPN-UML, Basanta Prasad Manandhar from the Nepali Communist Party, Ganesh Parajuli from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Lalkumar Lama from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, and Baburam Lama from the Janata Samajbadi Party, among others.
Several smaller parties and independent candidates are also in the race, making the contest highly competitive. Voters in the constituency say the election will see a close contest between established political parties and newer or independent candidates.
In the 2022 general election, Ganesh Parajuli of the Rastriya Swatantra Party was elected from Kathmandu–7, and the party has once again fielded him in this election.
