KATHMANDU, Aug 14: A by-election will be held on November 3 in Rupandehi’s House of Representatives constituency No. 3. The seat fell vacant following the death of Deepak Bohara, elected in the 2022 general election from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). The Election Commission is preparing to hold the by-election as scheduled.
Political parties have already begun preparations for the by-election. The CPN-UML has decided to field Khimlal Bhattarai as its candidate. Other parties, including the Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and RPP have also started preparations.
Meanwhile, seven Madhesh-based parties have formed the Federal Democratic Front to participate in the by-election. The front will field a candidate from the Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP).
Against this backdrop, Om Prakash Aryal, legal advisor to Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), is reportedly considering running as an independent candidate. Aryal has been serving as legal advisor since Balendra Shah (Balen) was elected mayor of Kathmandu.
According to close sources, Aryal is in intensive discussions with his associates regarding his potential candidacy. “He is in discussions and considering running as an independent candidate,” a source said.
In the last local elections, Balen unexpectedly won the Kathmandu mayoral post. Since then, he has remained relatively low-profile but is reportedly strategizing for a broader role in national politics.
Aryal’s possible candidacy is seen as part of that strategy. The ties between Aryal and Balen appear to be going smoothly. From handling cases involving the metropolitan office to providing legal and strategic guidance, Aryal has been advising Shah on necessary steps, and it is understood that Shah supports Aryal’s decision to contest.