Top guns face tough poll test

KATHMANDU, OCT 24 -
The upcoming Constituent Assembly election is likely to be a tough nut to crack for top leaders of the major parties as their rivals have geared up for a fight to the finish.  

Though many senior leaders have fielded their candidacy in a calculative way from two constituencies, they will have to toil hard to secure a victory, cross-party leaders said.

UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal is contesting from his previous constituency Kathmandu-10 and Siraha-5. In 2008, Dahal won election with a big margin from Kathmandu-10 and Rolpa-2. This time around, party leaders say, Dahal will have his task cut out for him due to the party split and strong candidates being lined up by rival parties.  Dahal shifted to Siraha-5 from Rolpa-2 for multiple reasons.

After the party split, a majority of party leaders and cadres in Rolpa joined the CPN-Maoist, weakening the UCPN (Maoist) position there. “He feared losing from Rolpa-2 due to strong CPN-Maoist presence there and opted Siraha-5 instead,” said a leader close to Dahal, requesting anonymity.  

In 2008, Mahendra Paswan of the UCPN (Maoist) won the election securing 12,110 votes. Paswan, who had joined the CPN-Maoist at the time of the split, has since returned to the UCPN (Maoist).

Janamorcha Nepal, which had secured 5,666 votes in the same constituency, merged with the UCPN (Maoist) in 2009. While Siraha-5 is regarded a safe constituency for Dahal, party leaders expect a tough competition from the CPN-UML there. Intra-party dispute is another challenge facing Dahal, according to party insiders.

Former prime minister and senior leader of UCPN (Maoist) Baburam Bhattarai, who won from Gorkha-2 in the last CA election, will be trying to emulate the feat in Gorkha-1 and Rupandehi-4 this time around. Bhattarai will be up against UML’s Bishnu Prasad Poudel, who won Rupandehi-4 with 15,880 in 2008.

Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala is again contesting from Banke-3, where he suffered a humiliating loss to Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Nepal’s Sarba Dev Ojha. Koirala secured 5,969 votes against Ojha’s 14,900. Koirala supporters are putting in a great deal of effort on the publicity campaign to avoid another defeat in the constituency.  

Koirala is also contesting from Chitwan-4. Though considered a relatively safer constituency, say party insiders, it will not be a walk in the park for the NC president as he is up against dissident leader Bikas Koirala, a popular local figure.

Sher Bahadur Deuba had secured narrow victories in both of his constituencies—Dadeldhura and Kanchanpur-4. In Dadeldhura, he won with 20,529 votes from UCPN (Maoist)’s Khag Raj Bhatta who bagged 19,161 votes. “My position has been strengthening and I am confident of a victory,” said Bhatta.

In Kanchanpur, Deuba secured 12,814 votes to beat Harish Thakulla of UCPN (Maoist) who had 11,795. This time around, Deuba has chosen Kailali-6 over Kanchanpur. Lila Kumar Bhandari of the UCPN (Maoist) won Kailali-6 in 2008 with 14,826 votes, beating NC’s Tek Bahadur Chokhal who had 11,284 votes.

CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal, who managed a close victory from Ilam-1 in 2008, may also struggle to retain his seat there. Khanal had secured 17,655 votes to edge his rival from the NC, Benup Raj Prasain, who had 13,077. Challenging Khanal in the constituency are Congress’ Himalaya Karmacharya and Yubaraj Poudel of the UCPN (Maoist), both believed to enjoy strong following in the constituency.

Khanal is also contesting from Sarlahi-1 which is considered a UML bastion. In 2008 election, UML’s Prakesh Pakhrin won the constituency with 12,726 votes from his closest contender Lumadi Prasad Dhimal who secured 10,337. But it could very well be a different battle this time, especially after a number of UML leaders deserted the party to join the UCPN (Maoist).  Another prominent leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, who lost Kathmandu-2 to Jhakku Prasad Subedi of the UCPN (Maoist), is going for another crack from the same consistency. He will be up against Lila Mani Pokhrel of the UCPN (Maoist) this time.

Having also lost in Rautahat-6, Nepal has chosen Rautahat-1 and his second battle ground. But he is expected to face a tough fight from Sanghiya Sadbhawana’s Anil Kumar Jha, who enjoys a strong support in the area.

In CA 2008

PK Dahal  Ktm-10 23,277 won; Rolpa-2 34,220 won

JN Khanal Ilam-1 17,655 won

BR Bhattarai Gorkha-2 46,272 won

S Koirala Banke-3 5,969 lost

MK Nepal Rautahat-6 8,986 lost; KTM-2    12,325    lost

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