Can UML hold its Kaski fortress?

POKHARA: The CPN-UML won all three constituencies in Kaski in the past two general elections. They party regards Kaski-2, in particular, as its stronghold. As the campaigning period for the March 5 House of Representatives election draws to a close, attention is focused on whether UML can retain this legacy or lose it to a rival.

In the 2017 and 2022 elections, UML swept all three constituencies in Kaski. In Kaski-2, the late Rabindra Adhikari won three consecutive elections in 2008, 2013, and 2017. Adhikari died in a helicopter crash while serving as the tourism minister in Taplejung in 2019. His wife, Bidhya Bhattarai, recorded a comfortable win in the by-election. She was re-elected from the seat in 2022.

This time, UML has fielded young leader Rashmi Acharya, a former central vice-chairperson of its student wing, ANNFSU, and former president of the Free Students’ Union at Prithvi Narayan Campus. Acharya has claimed that he will protect the party’s stronghold in the constituency. However, he faces stiff competition from candidates of the Nepali Congress (NC), the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), and the Ujyalo Nepal Party (UNP).

UML Central Committee Member Krishna Thapa claims that the party will secure even larger victory margins in all three constituencies compared to previous elections. Thapa was initially thought to have bagged the ticket to contest from UML in Kaski-2. However, the party eventually fielded Acharya.

Although UML appears confident of winning the seat, it will be challenging as the NC and RSP will give it a tough fight.

Uttam Poudel of the RSP is riding on the party’s nationwide craze and is expected to give tough competition to Acharya. Paudel, who worked with RSP President Rabi Lamichhane during his days in journalism, has campaigned aggressively in the constituency.

RSP candidate Madhav Prasad Kandel had lost to Bhattarai by around 4,500 votes in 2022, while Shreenath Baral of CPN (Unified Socialist), a common candidate of the NC and other left parties, could secure only 9,659 votes.

The NC has fielded its senior leader, Madhav Prasad Bastola (Madhu), in Kaski-2. Bastola previously served as the ward chair of Pokhara-11 and spokesperson for the party’s Gandaki Province Committee.

Similarly, the NCP has nominated Hem Bahadur Thapa (Kiran).

A total of 17 candidates are in the fray in Kaski-2, which has 84,134 registered voters. The constituency covers Wards 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, and 33 of Pokhara Metropolitan City.

Kaski-1

In Kaski-1, UML has fielded Bain Bahadur Kshetri (Adhikari), the party’s Kaski district committee chair. He is contesting a parliamentary election for the first time. He faces competition from Tilak Ranabhat of the NC, Rajkaji Gurung (Karan) of the NCP, Khadga Raj Poudel (Ganesh) of RSP, and Baburam Thapa of RPP.

UML leaders Khagaraj Adhikari and Man Bahadur Gurung won the seat in 2017 and 2022, respectively.

A total of 17 candidates are contesting in Kaski-1 this time. The constituency has 116,878 voters and includes Madi and Rupa rural municipalities as well as wards 10-14 and 26-32 of Pokhara Metropolitan City.

Kaski-3

UML’s Damodar Poudel Bairagi, who was elected from Kaski-3 in 2022, is contesting again. He faces strong challenges from candidates of the NC, NCP, RSP, and RPP.

Jagat Bahadur Bishwakarma of UML had won the seat in 2017.

Bairagi defeated Ramji Baral Jeevan of CPN (Maoist Centre), a common candidate of the NC and other left parties, by around 5,500 votes. Bairagi secured 22,980 votes, while Baral received 17,535. RSP’s Yogaraj Poudel came third.

This time, Bairagi is competing against Manoj Gurung of the NC, Arjun Prasad Khanal of the RPP, Bina Gurung of the RSP, and Gopal Giri of the NCP.
Observers, however, say the main contest will be UML’s Bairagi and NC’s Gurung.

Kaski-3 has 107,560 registered voters. It includes Annapurna and Machhapuchhre rural municipalities and wards 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, and 25 of Pokhara Metropolitan City.