Fierce contest in Dailekh: Old & new faces face off

KATHMANDU: Electoral activities in both constituencies of Dailekh have reached a peak ahead of the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5.

The contest has become particularly intense and closely watched as leaders who were once allies and later fierce competitors are now facing each other again.

In Constituency No. 1, the Nepali Congress is fielding its own candidate after a long gap, while in Constituency No. 2, a multi-cornered battle is expected among established parties and emerging forces.

Congress Returns to Constituency No. 1 with Female Leadership

The Nepali Congress has nominated Basana Thapa as its candidate for Dailekh Constituency No. 1. Thapa is the first woman in the parliamentary history of Dailekh to contest as a candidate from the Congress.

Her main rivals in this constituency are Ravindraraj Sharma of the Nepal Communist Party (UML) and Ambar Bahadur Thapa of the Nepal Communist Party. Sharma, the winner in 2017, was the closest competitor in 2022, while Thapa secured victory in 2022 as part of the then coalition.

In the 2022 elections, Thapa won with 18,297 votes, narrowly defeating Sharma, who received 17,445 votes.

This time, with Congress fielding its own candidate and Nandkishor Basnet contesting from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), there is heightened curiosity over which way the votes will swing.

Historical Contest in Constituency No. 2

Constituency No. 2 is set for a tight four-way contest. The Nepali Congress has re-nominated Dikpal Kumar Shahi to retain its legacy.

Shahi won in 2022 with a slim margin with support from the Maoist and Unified Socialist parties.

From the Nepal Communist Party (UML), former Constituent Assembly member Laxmi Prasad Pokharel is contesting, aiming to reclaim the prestige lost in 2022, when he lost by only 167 votes.

Additionally, Yogendra Bahadur Shahi, former Vice-Chairperson of the Karnali Province Planning Commission and a candidate from the Nepal Communist Party, is expected to reshape the electoral dynamics.

Analysts believe his intellectual image and UML background could attract votes from both major parties.

The RSP has also entered the fray with Engineer Bakhat Bahadur Shahi, ensuring a four-cornered contest in this constituency.

Old Faces and New Challenges

The presence of both seasoned and familiar candidates across Dailekh has created mixed reactions among voters, ranging from excitement to frustration. In such a scenario, personal influence and party organization are likely to play a decisive role.

However, the entry of new and intellectual candidates has placed “tested” politicians on the defensive. Local tourism entrepreneurs, women’s rights activists, and intellectuals entering the race could potentially attract young and neutral voters, according to Vishnu Sharma, President of the Nepal Journalists’ Association, Karnali Province.

According to the District Election Office, Dailekh has a total of 161,204 registered voters, with 79,701 in Constituency No. 1 and 81,503 in Constituency No. 2. Candidates campaigning on development, good governance, and capable leadership will find out on March 5 whose strategies and appeal resonate most with voters.