UML finalizes six candidates for National Assembly election

KATHMANDU: The CPN-UML has finalized its candidates for the National Assembly member election scheduled for Magh 11, selecting nominees in six provinces on the same day nominations are being registered, in line with the Election Commission’s timetable.

According to the party’s decision, Ram Kumari Jhakri, who recently left the Unified Socialist Party and returned to UML, has been nominated from Lumbini Province.

Similarly, Roshni Meche, personal secretary to UML Chair KP Sharma Oli, has been fielded as the party’s candidate from Koshi Province.

UML Candidates by Province

As per senior UML sources, the party has decided to contest in all provinces except Madhesh. The finalized list is as follows:

• Koshi Province: Roshni Meche

• Bagmati Province: Dr. Prem Kumar Dangal

• Gandaki Province: Smarana Devkota

• Lumbini Province: Ram Kumari Jhakri

• Karnali Province: Meena Rakhal

• Sudurpaschim Province: Leela Kumari Bhandari

The UML has not yet finalized a candidate for Madhesh Province.

Seat-Sharing Talks Ongoing

The election will be held for 18 vacant seats in the National Assembly.

Major political parties are preparing to contest the polls through alliances, with Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Centre), and Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) Nepal engaged in seat-sharing negotiations.

According to informal discussions so far, UML and Nepali Congress are expected to take seven seats each, the Maoist Centre three seats, while JSP Nepal and Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (LSP) would get one seat each. However, a final agreement is yet to be reached.

Party leaders have said efforts are underway to finalize the seat-sharing deal before the nomination deadline today.

Out of the 19 seats falling vacant in the National Assembly, 18 will be filled through the election, while one member will be nominated by the President on the recommendation of the government.