Factionalism, rebel candidates may shape by-elections in Gramthan

ITAHARI: The silent period for the local body by-elections kicks off on Thursday at midnight.

Top leaders of various parties have been actively campaigning at the ward level for the election in Gramthan Rural Municipality of Morang. Nepali Congress (NC) General Secretary Gagan Thapa visited Gramthan on Wednesday as part of the campaign. He said the election would primarily be a contest against the CPN-UML.

“The UML is our main competitor, even though we are currently coalition partners due to CPN (Maoist Center) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s activities,” he said, urging voters to support his party’s candidate, Balram Sardar. He added that his party would return to the electorate with a report card of their achievements in future elections.

Not only Thapa, but senior leaders of the Nepali Congress and UML have been campaigning in Gramthan. While it is common for leaders to deliver speeches soliciting votes, their presence has not significantly swayed local voters, especially in Gramthan, which has a substantial Tharu population. Most voters here are engaged in agriculture and farming.

Interestingly, political parties have not conducted extensive campaigns featuring their top leaders. When asked about this, party insiders cited public dissatisfaction with central leaders as a factor. Consequently, leaders have been advised to address local concerns and avoid excessive rhetoric tied to national politics.

Sixteen candidates from 15 political parties are competing for the position of chairperson in the rural municipality which became vacant with the passing of Jay Prakash Gachchhadar who was elected from the NC in 2022. However, the primary contest is expected to be among candidates from the NC, UML, and Maoist Center. While Sardar is the candidate for the NC, the UML has fielded Tulsi Ram Bishwas, and the Maoist Center has nominated Namo Narayan Majhi.

Experts say that internal fragmentation within major parties, particularly the NC and UML, might affect the election. Concerns have been raised that the Maoist Center’s candidate, Majhi, who recently defected from the NC, could attract votes away from his former party. NC leaders also acknowledge that internal factionalism might hurt their candidate’s chances.

Sardar is aligned with the Dr. Shekhar Koirala-led anti-establishment faction of the NC. While some analyses suggest internal disputes may impact the election results, NC Morang District Committee President Dik Bahadur Limbu remains optimistic. “Sardar is an experienced candidate. He is addressing the issues left unresolved by the late Jay Prakash Gachhadar,” Limbu said.

Similarly, the UML faces concerns over potential rebel candidates. As many as 11 UML leaders had expressed interest in contesting for the position. Although the local committee recommended all 11, central leaders picked Bishwas as the candidate. This prompted Namanarayan Chaudhary to contest the election as a rebel candidate. Analysts say this may divide UML votes.

Maoist Center’s Majhi served as Chairperson of Ward-1 in Gramthan during the 2017 elections as a candidate of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik). In the 2022 elections, he sought a ticket from the Nepali Congress to contest as a ward chairperson but was denied, leading him to run as an independent candidate, where he faced defeat.