The election marks special significance for the ruling Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), which is contesting to retain its two seats. For the Maoist, which managed sweeping victory in the 10 April 2008 CA polls, the by-election is tantamount to a referendum to test its popularity. [break]
A CA seat in the place of origin of the Maoists Peoples War is in the election fray. "Revolutionary" people in Rolpa-2 will judge whether or not the issues, the Maoists raised during the peoples war, correspond with their delivery as the largest ruling party.
Every vote caste in the Maoists´ favor will have a huge meaning in Rolpa as Prime Minister and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had secured his victory in the same constituency with large margin.
Nepali Congress is contesting in three vitals seats. Morang-7 is a seat where the Koirala family has had its emotional attachment. The Nepali Congress is using all possible efforts to get back Morang-7 from the clutch of a newly-formed regional party -- Madhesi People´s Rights Forum.
If Dr Shekhar Koirala wins the seat, it will be the last seat of the Koirala family in Biratnagar, a city that owes allegiance with late Krishna Prasad Koirala and is regarded as the place of origin of Nepal´s democratic movement.
Both Morang-5 and Morang-7 seats are crucial for the faction-ridden MPRF. These seats, vacated by party Chairman and Foreign Affairs Minister Upendra Yadav, and Parliamentary Party leader and Physical Planning and Works Minister Bijay Gachchhedar will be a litmus test for both the leaders.
It will also show how political equation has changed in Tarai especially after the recent Tharu movement. Gachchhedar hails from Tharu community but the Tharu movement was against the cause raised by Gachchadar´s party. Failing to retain party chairman´s seats will not bode well for the party. The party´s popularity is at stake here.
Kanchanpur-4 is not traditionally NC stronghold but most of the time the party has secured it. This time it is crucial because the party´s senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba vacated it. If NC candidate Yagya Raj Joshi loses the seat, Nepali Congress will be limited to Dadeldhura, Deuba´s seat.
Dhanusha-5 seat vacated by President Dr Ram Baran Yadav holds emotional attachment with Nepali Congress. Dr Yadavâ´s son, Dr Chandra Mohan, is vying for the seat to present himself as his fatherâ´s political successor. The CPN-UML has fielded one of its richest leaders, Raghubir Mahaseth, and Tarai Madhes Democratic Party has fielded its central treasurer Sri Krishna Yadav for the seat.
Kaski-1 seat, which was vacated by Law Minister Dev Gurung is yet another important constituency for the Maoists whose involvement in a number of clashes in Kaski-1 is ean indication that the Maoists are using all possible efforts to retain the seat.
The elections, which is held after one year of political confusions, will in an indirect way hammer home the message whether or not the role of ruling and opposition parties are so far justified. It will be a test for the Maoists to justify its activities, largely criticized by the opposition.
As told by Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala to reporters in Biratnagar after casting his vote Friday morning, the by-elections has a big political meaning, even if it fails to give outlet to the country´s political problems as claimed by him.
yuvraj@myrepublica.com
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