GANDAKI, FEBRUARY 25
A total of 17 candidates are in the fray in Kaski Constituency–2 for the upcoming House of Representatives election. The constituency, traditionally considered a stronghold of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (CPN-UML), is being closely watched by political observers.
In the previous election, UML leader Bidya Bhattarai had secured victory. Earlier, senior UML leader Rabindra Adhikari had won the 2008 and 2013 Constituent Assembly elections as well as the 2017 parliamentary election from the same constituency.
In the last election, Rastriya Swatantra Party candidate Madhav Kandel had finished second, while Shrinath Baral, representing an electoral alliance of the Nepali Congress, the then CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN (Unified Socialist), had come third. A three-way contest is widely anticipated this time.
The Rastriya Swatantra Party has claimed it will unseat the UML in this election. Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress has said that in the previous election it was unable to use its own election symbol due to the alliance arrangement. The party argues that being able to contest under its own symbol this time has made it easier to mount a strong challenge against its rivals.
Voters in the constituency appear divided. Many believe the main contest will be among the UML, the Nepali Congress and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP).
Among the 17 candidates are Rashmi Acharya of CPN-UML, Madhav Bastola of Nepali Congress, Hembahadur Thapa of Nepal Communist Party, Uttam Prasad Poudel of Rastriya Swatantra Party, Kushal Gurung of Ujyalo Nepal Party and Hemjung Gurung of RPP, among others.
Candidates campaigning in villages have said they are prioritising issues raised by the younger generation, including corruption-free governance, job creation, quality education and national prosperity.
Voters in rural areas such as Chawadi, Kurling and Singarebas of Bharatpokhari have urged candidates to focus on developing basic infrastructure to address essential needs in their communities.
(With inputs from RSS)
