As the March 5 election draws near, political momentum is building across the country. This year’s contest features several high-profile contenders, making it one of the most closely watched races in recent years. Here are the key candidates shaping the electoral battle.
Jhapa-5
Among the many races, Jhapa-5 stands out as one of the most intense battlegrounds. The contest is between communist Leader KP Sharma Oli and Balen Shah, the former mayor of Kathmandu and now a rising face of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). Oli is the former prime minister; he has consistently won elections in Jhapa except during the election held around the 2006 people’s movement. On the other hand, when Balen arrived to file his nomination, a huge crowd gathered to welcome him. His influence has grown so significantly that even door-to-door campaigns attract crowds.
Sarlahi-4
In Sarlahi-4, the contest is between the president of Nepali Congress, Gagan Thapa and MP Amesh Kumar Singh. Gagan Thapa’s emergence has encouraged many local leaders to return and reclaim the party’s lost base. Meanwhile, Singh, with many personal networks, influences the Madhesh belt and is now associated with the RSP. In the previous election (2022), Singh defeated Congress with 20,017 votes, while Congress’s candidate received 18,253. Singh had contested as an independent candidate after Congress denied a ticket.
Bhaktapur-2
In Bhaktapur-2, the electoral contest between Mahesh Basnet and Rajiv Khatri has drawn attention due to the candidates’ fierce criticism of each other on social media. Basnet, a former minister and prominent UML figure, is contesting again after a narrow defeat in 2022. He has also been very vocal about the violent aspects of Gen Z protests. On the other hand, former activist and journalist Rajiv Khatri is a candidate from the RSP.
Kathmandu-1
In Kathmandu-1, two leaders, Rabindra Mishra and Ranju Darshana, are in the limelight. Mishra, who lost in 2017 and 2022 by narrow margins, is contesting for the third time. Formerly the founder of Sajha Party and key figure of Bibeksheel-Sajha movement, journalist-turned-politician Mishra currently stands on behalf of the monarchist Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP).
At the age of 21, Ranju Darshana rose to prominence in 2017 as one of the youngest mayoral candidates in Nepal. She is now competing as the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) candidate. She had attracted further publicity to her campaign after making door-to-door visits while pregnant. She began her political journey with the Bibeksheel Nepali campaign under Ujjwal Thapa and, following the merger that created Bibeksheel-Sajha, spent a short period in the same party as Mishra.
Kathmandu-4
Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa had a long-time stronghold in Kathmandu-4. He won elections here in 2013, 2017, and 2022. But this time the Nepali Congress has fielded Sachin Timalsena, a Youth Congress leader, as a candidate. Across the opponent, the CPN-UML has presented Rajan Bhattarai, who is an old and seasoned politician. Bhattarai had already lost to Thapa, yet he is a famous political figure. Since Thapa is no longer in the race, Kathmandu-4 is wide open, making it one of the most interesting contests in the capital.
Saptari-2
In Saptari-2, the leader of the Janamat Party, Dr CK Raut, is running again to protect his seat. In 2022, he defeated the Madhesh-based leader Upendra Yadav. This year, the competition may not be so easy, as Raut is now being contested by former ally and Madhesh Province Chief Minister Satish Singh, who left Janamat and set up his own Swabhiman Party. Umesh Yadav is representing JSP-Nepal, and this has increased the intensity of the competition. Due to these internal divisions, what once appeared to be a safe seat for Raut has now turned into a close contest.
Dadeldhura-1
Dadeldhura-1 is the stronghold of former Prime Minister and Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba. He had been elected to every election here since 1991 and served the constituency for three decades. Even to the majority of the electorate, it seemed impossible to have the elections in Dadeldhura without his name appearing on the candidate list. However, the Nepali Congress has nominated Nain Singh Mahar, who is a younger leader and former student union head, to represent the party. His candidacy has brought a feeling of change to the constituency, and some of his long-time supporters are reconsidering their decisions.
Chitwan
Chitwan’s three constituencies feature two very different storylines. In Chitwan-2, Rastriya Swatantra Party chair Rabi Lamichhane is seeking an unprecedented third term (having won both 2022 and last year’s by-election here). His main opponent is NC’s Meena Kumari Kharel, a seasoned local politician.
Meanwhile, Chitwan-3 has captured attention for another reason, as Sobita Gautam (RSP) is running against Renu Dahal, daughter of Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’. Gautam is an articulate young lawyer who won Kathmandu-2 in 2022, while Renu was a two-term mayor of Bharatpur, praised for her development efforts.
Rukum East
Maoist leader and ex-PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has fielded himself in Rukum East, changing his constituency once again. This year, Prachanda faces 10 opponents, including Kusumdevi Thapa Magar (Nepali Congress), Leelamani Gautam (CPN-UML), and Lakhan Kumar Thapa (Rastriya Swatantra Party).
Tanahun-1
In the 2026 elections, Swarnim Wagle of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has a more difficult battle in Tanahun-1. An economist and former associate of Nepali Congress (NC), Wagle won the 2023 by-election by a wide margin, whereas this year the contest is more competitive. The seat was once occupied by President Ram Chandra Paudel, a senior NC leader, who provided the party with strong support. Govinda Bhattarai of NC is seeking to recover the seat.
Gorkha-2
Gorkha-2 is uncertain with the absence of major faces such as Baburam Bhattarai and Prachanda. Nepal Communist Party has selected young Lekhnath Neupane, Nepali Congress has Prakash Chandra Dawadi, RSP has Kabindra Burlakoti, while UML has local strongman ‘Chakre’ Milan Gurung. Bhattarai withdrew his candidacy in support of RSP after requests from RSP leaders. However, Bhattarai’s party, Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party (PLP) has decided to support Congress candidate Dawadi lately.
These races across the country, featuring new and old faces, will go a long way toward shaping Nepal’s next parliament.
Pratikshya Bhatta is a junior editor at Nepal Connect.
