HoR Race in Kathmandu-8: Candidates’ Focus on Heritage, Tourism

A majority of 22 candidates contesting the upcoming March 5 election to House of Representatives from constituency no 8 in Kathmandu districts have placed urban management as well as promotion of heritages in this constituency as their top priorities.

The constituency, located in the downtown of Kathmandu, houses several tangible and intangible heritages including the World Heritage Site-enlisted Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square.

Considering these heritages as the major foundation of the Nepal’s tourism sector, the candidate hopefuls including five independent ones in the fray have expressed their commitment to focus on protection, promotion and publicity of these heritages.

Nepali Communist Party’s candidate Suman Sayami asserted that he is contesting the election underscoring heritage conservation and addressing encroachment on cultural land in the constituency no 8, also known as cultural city, as his top agenda.

“I have been raising these issues for more than a decade to raise the people’s living standards. This time voters want to vote to those who walk the talk not just talk,” he observed, adding that voters are looking for self-governed and hardworking leaders.

“They are not seeking leaders who disappear into thin air after being elected. I will make every possible effort to address the people’s suffering,” he pledged.

Likewise, Nepali Congress’s candidate Sapana Rajbhandari mentioned that protection of cultural heritage and management of drinking water and traffic issues among others prominently figure her agendas.

Rajbhandari noticed that voters have become much more aware lately compared to the past and shared that they raise hard-hitting questions during election campaigns and interactions.

According to her, public of this constituency complain that although leaders make various promises with voters during elections, they would barely take initiative to fulfill them once they are elected.

She shared that voters often bombard her with questions. One among the frequently asked questions by voters, she cited, is -‘If you win in the election, what specific issues will your party address? Please enlighten us!’”

CPN (UML)’s candidate Rajesh Shakya said voters are well aware of his performance while he was serving as a Provincial Assembly member and claimed that they feel sympathetic towards him.

As the constituency no 8 is rich in World Heritage-listed sites, he pledges to work for protection and promotion of these heritages by chalking out a master plan.

Upon his election, he seeks to deliver on promoting Ranjana script, developing a tourism hub, granting legal recognition to traditional skills and prioritizing sectors such as health, education and information technology.

However, Rastriya Swatantra Party’s Biraj Bhakta Shrestha’s priorities slightly differ from that of other candidates.

Given the mounting concern of voters over good-governance and self-respect, he said that policy reform and systematic mobilization of the civil service mechanism would be his top agenda.

He noted that the voters are calling on the candidates to introduce effective policies and adopt a strict policy against corruption.

He has laid a special emphasis on protecting tangible and intangible heritages in the inner city and solving drinking water problems and protecting public properties in his constituency.

22 candidates including five independent ones in fray

A total of 22 candidates including five independent candidates are vying from the Kathmandu constituency no 8.

Among those fielded by political parties, Rajesh Shakya is representing the CPN (UML) while Sapana Rajbhandari is nominated by the Nepali Congress.

Suman Rayamajhi is running the election representing the Nepali Communist Party and Biraj Bhakta Shrestha on the behalf of Rastriya Swatantra Party.

Similarly, Navin Shahi is running the electoral race from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Sarojraj Baidya has been put forward by the Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal and Bandana Shrestha is contesting carrying the flag of the Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party.

Likewise, Dinesh Shahi is competing as the candidate of the Nepal Janata Samrakshan Party while Resham Bahadur Sunar is in the fray from the Samyukta Nagarik Party.

Also, Rajendra Prasad Shah is campaigning for the Nepal Communist Party (Samyukta) and Shivasundar Karmacharya is running under the Shram Samskriti Party.

Salam Singh Lama is contesting from the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist), Rajan Khadgi is representing the Ujjyalo Nepal Party and Vijay Dangol is from the Nepal Sanghiya Samajwadi Party.

Chhatra Kumar Pakhrin has entered the fray on behalf of the Rastriya Mukti Aandolan Nepal, Muktinath Sharma is in the race from the Rastriya Mukti Party and Khagesh Ranjitkar as the candidate of the Aam Janata Party.

Additionally, five independent candidates-Tulasa Shrestha Maharjan, Muna Neupane (Pandey), Bikash Khadgi, Sushila Nepali and Sunita Maharjan are also contesting from Kathmandu constituency No 8.

Constituency No 8 includes areas such as Bafal, Kalimati, Tankeshwari, Tahachal, Chhauni, Bhuikhel, Shobhabhagwati, Lakhutirth, Malchatar, Bijeshwari, Swoyambhu, Yatkha, Dhokatol, Bhimsensthan, Bhagwatibari, Basantapur, Itumbahal, Hanumandhoka, Lampakha, Solti Dobato, Harisiddhi, and Chakadol.

There are 57,811 voters in Kathmandu-8. This electoral constituency includes eight wards of Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Nagarjun Municipality. Wards 13, 15, 19, 20, 23 and 24 of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, and wards 4 and 5 of Nagarjun Municipality fall within this electoral area. The Election Commission has stated that there are 65 polling centres across 23 polling stations in this electoral area. (RSS)