KATHMANDU, Jan 20: Major political parties are racing to finalise their candidate lists under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system as the deadline for filing nominations for the March 5 House of Representatives election ends on January 20.
While parties have already submitted nominations under the proportional representation (PR) system, attention has now shifted to selecting candidates for the 165 constituencies contested through direct elections.
The CPN-UML has finalized candidates in 140 constituencies through meetings of its central committee and secretariat. The party has left a few constituencies, mainly in Kathmandu and Lalitpur, for the final decision to be taken by party Chairman KP Sharma Oli. The UML has confirmed that Oli will contest from Jhapa Constituency No 5. Other confirmed candidates include Suhang Nembang (Ilam-2), Sherdhan Rai (Bhojpur), Raghubir Mahaseth (Dhanusa-4), Prithivi Subba Gurung (Lamjung), Pradip Gyawali (Gulmi-1), and Bishnu Poudel (Palpa-2).
Major parties to submit PR lists to EC today
Jhapa-5 is set to witness a high-profile contest, with Oli facing senior Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) leader Balendra Shah (Balen), who quit as mayor of Kathmandu to contest the election. The RSP has formally decided to field Shah from the constituency. Oli, who has won the seat in successive elections, has already reached Jhapa to file his nomination. The constituency is considered a UML stronghold. His opponent Shah is widely seen as commanding strong support among young voters and those disillusioned with traditional parties. The race is expected to be among the closely watched contests of the election.
The Nepali Congress (NC), following major internal changes, has so far finalised 17 FPTP candidates under the leadership of party President Gagan Thapa. Most of the selections are from mountainous and rural constituencies, including Humla, Mugu, Jumla, Dolpa, Kalikot, Dailekh-1, Dailekh-2, Salyan, Bajura, Rukum East, Rolpa, Pyuthan, Taplejung, Panchthar, Baitadi, Tehrathum, and Dhankuta.
The pace of candidate selection in the NC has slowed amid internal differences following Thapa’s rise through the Special General Convention. Until late Monday evening, it remained unclear whether former party president Sher Bahadur Deuba would contest again from Dadeldhura, although he has conveyed his interest to leaders close to the Thapa faction. The party has formed a parliamentary board and is holding discussions with various factions to finalise its remaining candidates before Monday midnight.
The Nepali Communist Party (NCP) has become the only party to complete FPTP candidate selection in all 165 constituencies. The party has fielded a large number of new faces, though senior leaders remain in the race. Party Coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal is contesting from Rukum East-1, while Deputy Coordinator Madhav Kumar Nepal is contesting from Rautahat-1. Former prime minister Jhalnath Khanal and former deputy prime minister Bamdev Gautam have not been nominated.
Other parties, including the emerging RSP, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), and Janamat Party, are also finalising their FPTP candidates, announcing selections in key constituencies while continuing internal consultations ahead of the Election Commission’s deadline.
In Kathmandu, the RSP has given continuity to sitting lawmakers Shishir Khanal (Constituency No. 6), Ganesh Parajuli (No. 7), and Birajbhakta Shrestha (No. 8). Sobita Gautam, who won from Kathmandu-2 in the previous election, will contest this time from Chitwan-3. The party has nominated Ranju Darshana as a new candidate from Kathmandu-1 and retained Dr Tosima Karki in Lalitpur-3. RSP Vice-Chairperson DP Aryal has been finalised as the party’s candidate from Kathmandu-9.
Meanwhile, Jagdish Kharel resigned late Monday from his post as Minister for Communications and Information Technology. He is expected to file his nomination from Lalitpur-2 representing the RSP.
