KATHMANDU, Feb 10: As the House of Representatives (HoR) elections draw closer, election activity has intensified across the country, with more than 3,400 candidates from political parties and independent groups competing in 165 constituencies under the direct election system.
Candidates have stepped up outreach to voters with campaign programmes and policy pledges. While all constituencies carry equal representation, Koshi and Madhesh provinces have emerged as major focal points due to the presence of prominent national leaders and high-profile contenders.
In Koshi Province, key constituencies are drawing attention as senior leaders including former Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairman Rajendra Lingden, former Speaker Devaraj Ghimire, former Deputy Speaker Indira Rana Magar, Nepali Congress (NC) leader Shekhar Koirala, Shram Sanskriti Party Chairman Harka Sampang, and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) senior leader Balendra Shah are in the race.
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Similarly, several constituencies in Madhesh Province have become national talking points, with Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa, former Prime Minister and Nepali Communist Party (NCP) leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi, Janata Samajwadi Party Chairman Upendra Yadav, and Janamat Party Chairman CK Raut contesting the polls.
In Kathmandu, constituencies such as Kathmandu-5, where former Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar Pokharel and RPP leader Kamal Thapa are contesting, and Kathmandu-3, where Ujyalo Nepal Party Chairman Kulman Ghising is running, have drawn strong public interest. Other closely watched races include Chitwan-3, where Renu Dahal, daughter of NCP Coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal, is contesting, and Dang-2, where UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel is competing under an alliance with the Maoist Centre.
Among the most closely watched contests is Jhapa-5, where UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli is facing RSP leader Balendra Shah. Both parties have projected their candidates as potential future prime ministers. Oli, who is contesting a House election for the eighth time, previously lost only once—from Jhapa in the 2064 BS Constituent Assembly election. In the last election, he secured 52,319 votes. Shah, a former mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, is contesting a parliamentary election for the first time. Other candidates in the constituency include Ranjit Tamang (CPN), Mandhara Chimoriya (NC) and Laxmi Prasad Sangroula (RPP).
Jhapa-2 has also attracted attention, with 18 candidates—from 15 political parties and three independents—competing for votes from 147,522 registered voters. Major contenders include former Speaker Devaraj Ghimire and Deputy Speaker Indira Rana Magar. In the previous election, Ghimire won with 28,716 votes, narrowly ahead of independent candidate Bhadra Prasad Nepal, who has now joined the RPP.
Another key contest is in Jhapa-3, where RPP Chairman Rajendra Lingden is seeking re-election. He won the seat in 2022 with UML support. His challengers include candidates from the Nepali Congress, UML, CPN and RSP.
In Sarlahi-4, NC President Gagan Thapa is contesting after leaving Kathmandu-4, where he had been elected three times. He faces 26 candidates, including several prominent independents. Meanwhile, Sarlahi-2 has become a battleground between veteran Madhesh leaders Mahindra Raya Yadav and Rajendra Mahto, alongside candidates from the NC, UML and RSP.
Other constituencies drawing national attention include Sunsari-1, Morang-6, Dhanusha-3, Saptari-2 and 3, Rautahat-1, Siraha-4, Rukum East, Chitwan-2, Dang-2, Dolpa, Rupandehi-2, Kathmandu-3 and Kathmandu-5.
Political analysts say results from these high-profile constituencies could shape not only the composition of the next parliament but also future political alignments and leadership equations at the national level.
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