KATHMANDU, Feb 2: With the House of Representatives election on March 5, Kathmandu-8 is buzzing with political activity. Candidates are hitting the streets, campaigning door-to-door, and connecting with voters in a constituency that covers Kathmandu Metropolitan City Wards 13, 15, 19, 20, 23, and 24, as well as Nagarjun Municipality Wards 4 and 5. There are 57,811 registered voters, with women slightly outnumbering men.
Amid the 22 candidates, the spotlight is on four front-runners. Birajbhakta Shrestha of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), a resident of KMC-13, has centered his campaign on urban development, infrastructure, transportation, youth empowerment, and anti-corruption. Reflecting on his previous term, he said, “The people trusted me, and I honored that through my work. Good governance and transparency remain my top priorities.”
Suman Sayami, who ran as an independent last time, has joined the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), citing the need for political backing to protect marginalized communities and turn street-level demands into policy. “Politics cannot succeed on whim; established parties with roots are essential,” he said, highlighting his goal of strengthening the country’s economy and self-reliance.
Sapana Rajbhandari of the Nepali Congress (NC) is contesting to fulfill the unfinished development projects of her late husband, Nabindra Raj Joshi. A local resident of KMC-19, she aims to blend the aspirations of Janajati youth with the guidance of senior party leaders to drive development while preserving culture and traditions.
CPN-UML candidate Rajesh Shakya, drawing on decades of political experience, seeks to promote Swayambhunath and Hanuman Dhoka as globally recognized tourist sites and boost the economy through policy reforms. His work with local communities and past parliamentary experience form the foundation of his campaign.
With several other candidates from smaller parties and independents also in the race, Kathmandu-8 promises a highly competitive contest. Voter engagement, local roots, and clear vision are expected to determine who wins the trust of this diverse electorate.
Other candidates in the constituency include Khagesh Ranjitkar of the Aam Janata Party, Chhatra Kumar Pakhrin of the Rastriya Mukti Andolan Nepal, Dinesh Shahi of the Nepal Janata Sanrakshan Party, Nabeen Shah of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Bandana Shrestha of the Nepal Majdur Kisan Party, Muktinath Sharma of the Rastriya Mukti Party Nepal, and Rajan Khadgi of the Ujyalo Nepal Party.
Additional contenders include Rajendra Shah of the Nepal Communist Party United, Reshambahadur Sunar of the Sanyukta Nagarik Party, Bijay Dangol of the Nepal Sanghiya Samajbadi Party, Shiva Sundar Karmacharya of the Shram Sanskriti Party, Saroj Raj Baidya of the Janata Samajbadi Party, and Salamsingh Lama of the Nepal Communist Party Maoist. Independent candidates in the race are Sunita Maharjan, Sushila Nepali, Bikash Khadgi, Muna Neupane, and Tulasa Shrestha Maharjan.
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