KATHMANDU, Dec 31: Nepali Communist Party (NCP) leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal has been recommended as a candidate for the March poll from 11 constituencies across 10 districts for the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5. Although he is the first-choice candidate under the first-past-the-post system in all these constituencies, he cannot contest from all of them.
This has raised questions about Dahal’s strategy: is he seeking a “safe seat” by securing recommendations from multiple constituencies, or is the move aimed at projecting his political popularity? Since forming the NCP by aligning with Madhav Nepal–led CPN (Unified Socialist), Dahal—who had earlier left the Maoist Center—has never had a permanent electoral stronghold.
Since 2008, he has not contested from the same constituency. In the 2008 Constituent Assembly election, he won from Rolpa and Kathmandu-10. In 2013, Siraha and Kathmandu-10 were his preferred constituencies, but after losing in Kathmandu-10, he did not contest there again. Since then, Dahal has continued contesting elections from different constituencies.
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Currently, neither Chitwan nor Gorkha appears to be a secure seat for him. Analysts say this may explain why he has sought recommendations from 10 other districts. Dahal has been recommended in both the Tarai-Madhesh and hill districts. He previously won from Siraha in 2013, and this time his name has been recommended from Mahottari-4, another constituency in Madhesh Province. The regional convention recommended two names for the direct election, placing Dahal first and Bharat Prasad Sah—parliamentary party leader of the Maoist Centre in Madhesh Province—second.
Dahal has also been recommended from Rolpa. After winning there in 2008 and later moving to Kathmandu, he had not returned to contest from the district. A former Maoist Centre leader said Dahal sought a recommendation from Rolpa amid political uncertainty, signaling a sense of insecurity. In Rolpa, Dahal tops the list, followed by five others, including Barshaman Pun, Kul Prasad KC, Jayapuri Gharti, and Deepak Roka. Barshaman Pun won the seat in 2022, while Dahal had been elected from the same constituency during the first Constituent Assembly election.
Additionally, the party has recommended Dahal and his daughter-in-law, Srijana Tripathi, from Kaski-3. His name has also been recommended from Nuwakot-1, Sindhuli-2, Ramechhap, Gorkha-1 and 2, Kailali-3, and Sunsari-4.
Overall, Dahal’s multiple recommendations from 10 districts allow him to achieve two objectives: maintaining an image of popularity within the party and assessing constituencies with a strong Maoist voter base to choose the safest seat.
Tribhuvan University political science professor Krishna Pokharel explained, “Leaders often seek multiple recommendations to signal their influence within the party. In addition, amid political uncertainty, they naturally look for a secure constituency. Public opinion is being evaluated to determine where support is strongest. Traditional party leaders may not be as popular right now, but they will still contest when the election atmosphere intensifies. This is likely why Dahal seeks safe options.”
Political analyst Hari Roka echoed this view, saying the current environment is not favorable for traditional parties. “There’s no guarantee of victory for leaders at the moment. They aim to contest from areas where they feel strong. Dahal has followed this practice before, seeking constituencies where he has a voter base. How leaders position themselves as the election approaches will be key,” Roka said.
Dahal’s strategy of securing recommendations from multiple constituencies underscores both the challenges and tactical maneuvers in Nepal’s shifting political landscape.
