NSP saved Gandaki govt to secure Gorkha-2 for Baburam

KATHMANDU: Nepal Samajbadi Party (NSP) saved the government of Surendra Raj Pandey of Nepali Congress (NC) in Gandaki Province on Monday to secure the Gorkha-2 seat of the House of Representatives in the next election.

Gorkha-2 has been the home constituency of NSP Coordinator Dr. Baburam Bhattarai for a long time. In the 2022 general election, however, he left the constituency for CPN (Maoist Center) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Dahal won the election with an overwhelming majority.

An NSP leader told Himal Press that NSP assembly member Phanindra Devkota became the decisive vote for Chief Minister Pandey’s trust vote on the direction of Dr Bhattarai. NSP’s provincial and central units had authorized Dr Bhattarai to decide whether to vote for or against Pandey.

NSP has one seat in the Gandaki Province Assembly.

Devkota was elected from Gorkha-2 (A) seat of the Gandaki Province Assembly using the election symbol of the Maoist Center. He was the common candidate of the central electoral alliance of the Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Center) and NSP. Chief Minister Pandey was elected from the Gorkha-2 (B) seat.

Leaders say Devkota’s decision to give a trust vote to Chief Minister Pandey is linked to Dr Bhattarai’s politics. Dr  Bhattarai is preparing to contest the upcoming election from the Gorkha-2 seat of the House of Representatives.

“After relinquishing his traditional seat to Maoist Center Chairperson Dahal in 2022, Dr. Bhattarai received heavy criticisms from party cadres and locals alike. He is unlikely to repeat that mistake,” the NSP leader said.

Some NSP leaders said Dr. Bhattarai has already begun preparation for the next general election. They believe the decision to save Chief Minister Pandey’s government is a part of that preparation.

“We did the right thing by saving NC’s government in Gandaki. It holds both immediate and long-term significance for the party,” the NSP leader said. “We formed an alliance with the NC in 2022. We might need its support in the next election as well.”

Chief Minister Pandey is a strong candidate in Gorkha-2. NSP leaders believe that it won’t be difficult for Dr Bhattarai in the next election if Pandey is with them.

Dr Bhattarai has won three elections from Gorkha-2. His latest win in 2017 became possible with the NC’s support.