KATHMANDU, Dec 2: The results of the local-level by-elections are nearly final, with only three seats remaining: Kirtipur Municipality (mayor), Gaurishankar Rural Municipality (vice-chairperson), and Belaka Municipality (ward chair of ward 9).
So far, Nepali Congress (NC) has secured victories in 16 wards. However, despite fielding candidates in 41 seats, the party has been unable to win posts of any chairperson/mayor or vice-chairperson/deputy mayor.
The Maoist Center has claimed six wards, including one chairperson, one deputy mayor, and one vice-chairperson. The party, which contested in 40 seats, has achieved the results it had hoped for.
Similarly, the CPN-UML has won five wards, including one chairperson and one vice-chairperson. Despite fielding candidates in 39 seats, the party failed to meet its expectations.
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The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), however, is limited to a single ward. Out of the 27 seats it contested in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the party has won only one, with deposits forfeited in more than a dozen seats.
The Maoist Center is the only party expressing satisfaction with the results. Leaders have interpreted the performance as evidence of the party's ability to compete independently. Maoist Center leader Saral Sahayatri said, "The by-election results have sent a message that the Maoist Center can stand on its own. Votes don’t remain static."
Spokesperson and Vice-Chairman of the Maoist Center, Agni Prasad Sapkota, said, "The results show that the Maoist Center is gaining momentum. We are excited."
The Maoist Center’s most notable victory came in Putha Uttarganga Rural Municipality in Rukum, where it secured the vice-chairperson position. This was achieved despite Congress and UML forming an alliance, with the Maoist Center candidate Narapura Budha emerging victorious.
The ruling UML and NC have been less enthusiastic about the results. The NC has lost municipalities it previously controlled areas and has yet to win a single municipality in this election. Despite winning 16 wards in total, the results have been a setback for the party.
NC leader Min Bishwokarma said, "This outcome was not what we expected. Voters no longer show the same commitment to returning to the polls. We’ve seen a shift where other parties have taken seats we previously held, and we’ve won in areas they held before. Still, these results were disappointing."
The UML, too, has underperformed. As the first-ranked party in terms of overall support, it lagged behind the Maoist Center in proportional votes. UML leader Mahesh Kumar Bartaula said, "We respect the people's decision, regardless of the outcome. We need to reflect on our preparations and work harder in the future."
Despite the setbacks, NC remains hopeful about securing the mayoral position in Kirtipur Municipality. Its candidate, Krishna Man Dangol, is currently leading UML’s Surendra Manandhar by a margin of nearly 500 votes.
For the RSP, the by-election has been particularly challenging. After initial success in parliamentary by-elections, the party has struggled this time, failing to secure significant wins at the local level. Leaders have acknowledged that the results are far from what they anticipated.
