Mahesh Basnet (left) with Khanal (center) and UML leader Subash Nembang. (File Photo)
KATHMANDU: Two UML candidates, who shared the same name – Mahesh Basnet, contested in the November 20 election for the House of Representatives. While the better-known Mahesh Basnet was defeated in Bhaktapur-2, the little-known one got elected from Ilam-1 constituency.
The little-known Basnet is now in the limelight as he defeated senior CPN (Unified Socialist)leader Jhalanath Khanal.
Basnet was a district-level cadre when Jhalanath Khanal was leading CPN-UML. But he emerged in the Nepali political scene by defeating his mentor Khanal who had won multiple elections in Ilam-1. The defeat may have ended Khanal’s parliamentary politics.
Interestingly, Khanal is the only former prime minister who lost the election. The septuagenarian leader, who solicited votes by saying that it would be his last election, did not get people’s support. UML cadres say voters didn’t like Khanal as he failed to work as per the people’s expectations despite representing the constituency repeatedly.
“Voters were angry with Khanal. They had realized that development of Ilam won’t be possible under Khanal’s leadership,” deputy secretary of the Ilam district committee of UML, Rabindra Subedi, said.
The scenario was not favorable for Khanal. He was contesting the election from a small party that split from UML. People would identify Khanal as a ‘tourist’ candidate. Basnet, however, had already become popular among people as a pro-development leader. People were attracted to him as he was involved in development and infrastructure work during his mayoral tenure.
Not an easy race for Basnet
But it wasn’t easier for Basnet to break Khanal’s legacy. Khanal was the common candidate of the five-party ruling coalition. The coalition’s total vote in the local body election held in March was about 10,000 more than what UML had received. Also, Basnet wasn’t from Ilam-1; he belongs to Ilam Municipality in Ilam-2 constituency.
“Since old candidates won’t be able to do anything to meet people’s aspiration of development and prosperity, I decided to step in,” newly-elected lawmaker Basnet said.
Basnet was in a difficult situation as his opponent had the support of five political parties. But he succeeded in winning the election by exploiting Khanal’s weaknesses and also because of his strategies. He aware that Khanal could use state machinery in his favor. UML has been leveling the same charges against Khanal.
“Khanal tapped people’s phones. He made people insecure. Bombs were exploded in different parts of the constituency,” Subedi said.
Khanal received 23,045 votes, while Basnet got elected by polling 25,699 votes.
This was Khanal’s second defeat in Ilam-1. Khanal won five elections – in 1991, 1994, 2008, 2013 and 2017. He lost to Benup Raj Prasai of Nepali Congress in the 1999 election.
Basnet was elected as the Mayor of Ilam Municipality again in 2017. During his five-year tenure, he proved himself by implementing several long-term programs in infrastructure, social security, tourism and sports sectors
Why people chose Basnet?
Basnet has been involved in Communist politics for more than four decades. Though he was elected to the free student union of Mahendra Ratna Campus of Ilam in 1981 from UML’s student wing, he took party membership only in 1991. He was elected Mayor of Ilam Municipality in 1997 by defeating Himalaya Karmacharya of Nepali Congress. Basnet, who became a member of the party’s district committee in 2002, was elected to the secretariat committee member of the party in 2006. He has been performing responsibility as the secretary of the party’s district committee since 2016. Basnet holds a Master’s degree in History. He also taught at Mahendra Ratna Multiple Campus for four years.
Basnet was elected as the Mayor of Ilam Municipality again in 2017. During his five-year tenure, he proved himself by implementing several long-term programs in infrastructure, social security, tourism and sports sectors. The municipality formulated 219 types of laws during Basnet’s tenure.
Further, he established an agriculture college offering Bachelor’s degree in Ilam – the first such college in hilly districts of Nepal. Similarly, Ilam Community Eye Hospital was also established under his leadership.
Basnet also took initiatives for the management of public land in Ilam Municipality. Likewise, Bhagwati Stadium is under construction in Maikhola area. He has built playing grounds in all wards of the municipality. He also mobilized youth by forming different committees in sectors like art and music, music, tourism, indigenous nationalities, Dalits, women, and sports development, among others, which helped him get connected with the people.
