Damauli, December 1

With the second phase of provincial and parliamentary polls slated for December 7 inching closer, election candidates are making one last effort to win over voters, in Tanahun.

Candidates of both the left and democratic alliances are busy with their door-to-door campaigns, election rallies and other publicity programmes.

The district has historically remained a stronghold of the Nepali Congress. However, left alliance candidates can upset their rivals, this time around.

Previously the district had three constituencies. Then poll results in Constituency 1 and 2 would mostly swing in NC’s favour. In Constituency 3, CPN-UML would dominate. Under the new federal structure, there are only two constituencies in the district.

Senior NC leader Ram Chandra Paudel is vying from Constituency 1. Paudel’s election agenda include economic prosperity and employment. The left alliance has fielded Krishna Kumar Shrestha from the constituency.

As per the recent civic poll results, the left alliance is ahead of NC with more than 1,500 votes. In Constituency 1 ‘Ka’, Govind Bhattarai from NC and Ram Bahdaur Gurung from the left alliance are contesting for a provincial assembly seat.  Likewise, in Constituency 1 ‘Kha’, NC’s Raghunath Paudel and the left alliance’s Hari Bahdaur Chuman in the fray.

Likewise, NC’s Shankar Bhandari and the left alliance’s Kedar Sigdel are seen as major contenders from Constituency 2 for the parliamentary elections.

In Constituency 2 ‘Ka’, NC has fielded Pradip Paudel while the left alliance has given ticket to Asha Koirala for the provincial elections. Likewise, In Constituency 2 ‘Kha’, a tight battle is expected between NC’s Dhruba Wagle and the left alliance’s Kirang Gurung for a seat in the provincial assembly.

As many as 51 candidates, including 21 for parliamentary and 30 for provincial seats, are in the race in two constituencies of Tanahun.