Where Are The Heavyweights Contesting?

More than a dozen heavyweight and popular political leaders have filed their candidacies for the upcoming election to the House of Representatives, scheduled for March 5.

CPN-UML Chair and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has filed his nomination from Jhapa-5, to whom the party has portrayed as the next PM of the country.

Contesting the same seat is Rastriya Swatantra Party’s senior leader, Balendra Shah, rapper-turned former Mayor of Kathmandu.

The race is expected to be highly competitive, as Oli is well-established in the region, while Sah has popularity among young voters. RSP Chair Rabi Lamichhane is contesting from Chitwan-2 from where he had won previously.

Similarly, Speaker of dissolved House of Representatives, Devraj Ghimire, has filed his nomination from Jhapa-2, where he will face the RSP leader and his deputy at the dissolved House of Representatives, Indira Ranamagar.

The newly elected chair of Nepali Congress, Gagan Kumar Thapa will contest the election from Sarlahi-4. Earlier he used to compete from Kathmandu 4.

General Secretary of CPN-UML, Shankar Pokhrel, has filed nomination from Dang-2 while former UML Senior Vice-Chair Ishwor Pokharel has filed his candidacy from Kathmandu-5.

Young UML leader Suhang Nemwang is contesting election from Ilam 1, twice in two years, as he had won the by-election after the death of his father Subash Nemwang from the same constituency.

Coordinator of the Nepal Communist Party’s and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has filed his nomination from Rukum East, citing commitments to good governance and national prosperity.

He also mentioned that this would be his final electoral contest. Meanwhile, Renu Dahal has filed her candidacy from Chitwan-3.

NCP joint coordinator and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has filed nomination from his regular Rautaht 1 constituency.

Ujyalo Nepal party chair Kulman Ghising, who earlier served as a minister in PM Sushila Karki’s cabinet has registered his nomination from Kathmandu 3.

Chair of the Pragatishil Loktantrik Party and former Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has nominated himself from Gorkha-2. Although he had earlier indicated he would not contest the election, he later decided to enter the race.

Rashtriya Prajantantra Party (RPP) Chair Rajendra Lingden has filed his candidacy from Jhapa-3, where he had won last election with the coalition with CPN-UML.

Chair of the Shram Sanskriti Party, Harka Sampang, has nominated his candidacy from Sunsari-1.

These nominations have drawn the national and international attention.