Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress leader Bijay Kumar Gachhadar’s 31-year journey in parliamentary politics has come to an abrupt end. Gachhadar, who was victorious in all six elections since the political change of 1990, however, was unlucky in the seventh election. In the election for the House of Representatives held on November 20, he lost to Bhagwati Chaudhary of CPN-UML in the Sunsari-3 constituency.
Gachhadar, who was victorious in 1991, 1994, 1999 and 2017 general elections, and 2008 and 2013 Constituent Assembly (CA) elections, has become deputy prime minister five times and minister 13 times. The veteran leader, who was appointed Minister for Information and Communications in the cabinet of late Girija Prasad Koirala formed after the 1991 election, was a member of almost all the cabinets formed since then. He would often get the ministry of his choice. He repeatedly held home affairs, physical infrastructure and water resources portfolios. Gachhadar and NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba are the only leaders who won all elections held from 1991 till 2007. Though Deuba won his seventh election, Gachhadar was unlucky.
Gachhadar is a seasoned player in power politics. His inclusion in almost all the cabinets formed since 1991 speaks about his political might in volumes. Gachchhadar stayed out of the government only during King Gyanendra’s direct rule during 2004-2006. Likewise, he also didn’t get the opportunity after the 2017 election.
Knowledgable sources say four NC leaders going by the moniker AKJB – Arjun Narsingh KC, Khum Bahadur Khadka, Goinvdaraj Joshi and Bijay Kuamr Gachhandari – used to run the show in late Koirala’s kitchen cabinet. Of these four, Khadka has already passed away. Joshi, who is fighting a corruption case, is no longer with the NC. KC, however, has been reelected from Nuwakot-2 in the November 20 election.
Gachhadar’s parliamentary journey
Gachhadar began his parliamentary journey by defeating Leela Shrestha (Subba) of CPN-UML in Sunsari-2 in 1991. In the mid-term election of 1994, Gachhadar defeated UML’s Kuldeep Peskar in the same constituency. Similarly, he recorded a hattrick of wins in 1999 by defeating UML’s Rebati Raman Bhandari in Sunsari-2.
After the political change of 2006, Gachhadar left Nepali Congress and joined Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF). He won the 2008 Constituent Assembly election from Sunsari-3 as the candidate of (MJF), defeating Agamlal Chaudhary of Nepali Congress.
Bhagwati lucky in third attempt
Gachhadar defeated Bhagwati Chaudhary of CPN-UML in the 2013 CA election as the candidate of MJF (Democratic). In the tightly-contested affair, Gachhadar defeated Bhagwati by around 400 votes. The duo again locked horns in the 2017 election. Gachhadar, who had rejoined NC by that time, again defeated Bhagwati by around 300 votes. While Gachhadar received 38,972 votes, Bhagwati – the common candidate of left parties – polled 38,651.
In the third attempt, Bhagwati defeated Gachhadar, who was the common candidate of the five-party ruling coalition, by more than 5,000 votes.
Deuba’s favorite leader
Gachhadar joined Nepali Congress from the party’s student wing Nepal Students Union. He became the central committee member of the party in 1994. Gachhadar left Koirala camp to join hands with Deuba after the latter became prime minister in 1995. He even supported Deuba when he left NC to form Nepali Congress (Democratic) in 2002.
After the political change of NC, Gachhadar left the party and joined MJF. He, however, merged MJF (Democratic) with NC before the 2017 election. Gachhadar’s political career took a downturn after that. Later, he went underground when a case against him was filed at the Special Court on Lalita Niwas land grab scam. He was automatically suspended. He resurfaced furnishing a bail of Rs 1 million after Deuba assumed the premiership in May, 2021.
Gachhadar contested for the post of vice president from Deuba’s panel in the party’s 14th general convention. He lost by two votes.
