KATHMANDU, Dec 25: As electoral calculations intensify ahead of the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) elections, Nepali Communist Party (NCP) Coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal appears to be once again in search of a safe constituency. With shifting political equations and emerging rivals, Dahal has now reached out to Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane, proposing an electoral alliance, sources say.
In the 2022 HoR election, Dahal was elected from Gorkha Constituency–2, a seat vacated for him by Dr Baburam Bhattarai. However, Bhattarai has begun preparations to contest again from Gorkha Constituency–2 in the HoR election scheduled for March 5, forcing Dahal to explore alternative constituencies. Over the years, Dahal has contested elections in Chitwan, Rolpa, Siraha, and Kathmandu, frequently shifting bases in response to political circumstances.
Leaders close to Bhattarai say that if he ultimately decides not to contest from Gorkha Constituency–2, his daughter Manushi Yami Bhattarai may be fielded instead. In the previous election, Bhattarai had stayed out of the direct contest after vacating the seat for Dahal and had nominated Manushi from Kathmandu Constituency–7.
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Dahal had moved to Gorkha Constituency–2 last time after assessing Chitwan Constituency–3 as electorally insecure. This time, however, he is keen to return to Chitwan Constituency–3 for the March election. If circumstances do not allow him to contest there himself, Dahal is reportedly considering fielding his daughter Renu Dahal, the mayor of Bharatpur Metropolitan City. Given her current executive role, her parliamentary candidacy is seen as unlikely, strengthening Dahal’s own interest in the constituency.
Sources say Dahal has proposed an electoral alliance with the RSP to secure Chitwan Constituency–3 either for himself or, if necessary, for his daughter. His name has already been recommended from Mahottari Constituency–4 and Gorkha Constituency–1, while recommendations from Sarlahi and Nuwakot remain possible. However, Nuwakot is viewed as politically risky for Dahal due to his alleged links to the Shera Durbar land embezzlement case, making Chitwan a more attractive option.
Gorkha Constituency–2, meanwhile, is widely regarded as Bhattarai’s stronghold and is also considered a base of RSP Deputy General Secretary Kabindra Burlakoti. With younger voters increasingly gravitating toward Burlakoti, sources say Gorkha Constituency–2 is unlikely to be favorable terrain for Dahal this time.
According to sources, Dahal has been engaging in backchannel talks with Lamichhane through multiple intermediaries. He even visited Lamichhane at Nakkhu Prison while the RSP leader was in custody, a move widely interpreted as part of Dahal’s effort to secure political goodwill. Dahal met Lamichhane at the prison on August 20, after which the RSP publicly expressed gratitude. RSP Vice Chair Dol Prasad Aryal and spokesperson Manish Jha were also present during the meeting.
Sources claim Dahal has privately concluded that he cannot win Chitwan 3 solely on the strength of his party, a coalition of several leftist groups, and has therefore mobilized aides to pursue an alliance with the RSP. Some intellectuals close to Dahal but outside the NCP have already conveyed a formal proposal to Lamichhane, not only for Chitwan Constituency–3 but also for a broader nationwide alliance.
Dahal believes that an electoral alliance between the NCP and the RSP could pave the way for forming a majority government, sources say.
Dahal’s electoral journey has been marked by frequent shifts. In the 2008 Constituent Assembly election, he won from Kathmandu Constituency–10 and Rolpa, later choosing Rolpa. In the 2013 election, he lost in Kathmandu Constituency–10 but won from Siraha Constituency–1. In 2017, he was elected from Chitwan Constituency–3, before moving to Gorkha Constituency–2 in the subsequent election.
Chitwan Constituency–3 is also considered a stronghold of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). In the previous election, Bikram Pandey of the RPP won the seat, reportedly with backing from the CPN-UML. Following UML’s support for Pandey, Dahal had abandoned the constituency for Gorkha Constituency–2. With the RSP now holding a growing influence in Chitwan, sources say Dahal has renewed his push for an electoral alliance, offering reciprocal support for the RSP across multiple constituencies nationwide.
