KATHMANDU, July 5: The upcoming by-election scheduled for November 3 has already drawn attention from major political parties. The ruling CPN-UML has finalized its candidate—Khimlal Bhattarai. Other parties, including the Nepali Congress, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), have also initiated internal discussions and formed mobilization committees, directing their district units to propose potential candidates.
However, the CPN (Maoist Centre) has yet to begin any formal discussion on the by-election. According to party secretary Dinanath Sharma, a meeting of party office-bearers will take place next week, after which preparations will begin. “Our party hasn’t been touched by the by-election yet. We’ll hold a leadership meeting next week, and only then will we start discussions,” Sharma said.
Meanwhile, social media has been abuzz with speculation that the Maoist Center might field former Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Managing Director Kulman Ghising as its candidate. When asked about this, Secretary Sharma clarified, “First of all, our party hasn’t started discussions on the by-election. Candidate selection will come much later. Kulmanji’s name is being discussed outside, but the party has not thought about it yet.”
Use of NEA Chief Ghising’s image on Maoist Center’s poll poster...
Though Ghising is considered to be close to the Maoists—having been brought to head the NEA from the Chilime Hydropower Project by a Maoist-led government—there is no official confirmation about his candidacy. He was first appointed as NEA’s executive director on September 14, 2016, and reappointed on August 11, 2021, during the tenure of Maoist Vice-Chair Pampha Bhusal as Energy Minister. However, on March 24, 2025, the KP Sharma Oli-led government dismissed him as the NEA chief.
Ghising challenged his dismissal in the Supreme Court but did not receive a favorable verdict. Since then, he has hinted at entering politics. He is currently on an international tour, visiting Nepali youth in Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and Dubai. He left Nepal on July 1 and is presently in Bahrain.
Although there is talk that he may contest from Rupandehi-3 on a Maoist ticket, Ghising himself has made no final decision. In a brief conversation with Republica a few weeks ago, he said, “Whatever the people want, I will do that. I haven’t reached a decision yet.”
According to sources, Ghising is yet to decide whether to run independently, join an existing party or establish a new one. "Any party would want to field him, except Congress," said a source, "but he seems more inclined toward being a leader of 20–25 lawmakers than just one MP. It’s unlikely he’ll contest from the Maoist party. For now, he’s just running the Ujyalo Campaign. The other speculation is false.”
In the past, Ghising has publicly denied being affiliated with the Maoist party. During a meeting with identity-based leader Dakendra Singh Thegim, he said, “People associate me with the Maoists, but that’s not true. I was appointed to NEA during a Maoist-led government, yes, but I’m not a Maoist member.”
