KATHMANDU, July 4: The political landscape in Rupandehi-3 has suddenly burst into life, with names of several hopefuls swirling through party corridors and public chatter alike, after the Election Commission (EC) announced November 3 as the date for the much-anticipated by-election.
The seat fell vacant following the death of sitting lawmaker and senior Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) leader Deepak Bohora, whose electoral legacy had kept him a dominant force in the constituency for years. His passing has left a vacuum—and now, a fiercely contested race is on to fill it.
Even before the ink dried on the EC's notice, aspiring candidates from across the political spectrum had begun lobbying behind the scenes. Now, with the date fixed, open maneuvering has begun.
In the Nepali Congress (NC), all eyes are on former Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand, who lost to Bohora in 2022. Though embroiled in legal controversy over the Bhutanese refugee scam, Khand has remained politically active, fueling speculation about a comeback. Other names gaining traction within the party include former lawmaker Bharat Shah, Pramod Yadav and Ramchandra Dhakal.
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Meanwhile, the CPN-UML is seeing a flurry of interest, with politburo member Khimlal Bhattarai reportedly securing backing from party chair KP Sharma Oli. However, Bhattarai’s candidacy has stirred internal dissent as he traditionally belongs to a different constituency. Still, local leaders like Bharat Pokharel, Dadhiram Neupane, and Hitaraj Panthi are being floated as alternatives.
The CPN (Unified Socialist)’s General Secretary Ghanashyam Bhusal, who once defeated Bohora in 2017, is under pressure to contest again as a united left candidate. Within his party, Lumbini Province Vice Chairman Kamal Bhandari has also emerged as a potential face, according to reports.
The CPN (Maoist Centre) is also gearing up to field its candidate in the election. While no name has been finalized, Maoist Center leaders said discussions are underway and a candidate will be revealed soon.
Meanwhile, social media has been abuzz with speculation that the Maoist Centre might field former Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Managing Director Kulman Ghising as its candidate. When asked about this, Maoist Center Secretary Dinanath 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.”
As traditional forces weigh their options, newer parties like the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) are preparing to capitalize on the public’s growing disenchantment with status quo politics. RSP’s shortlist includes Provincial Vice President Shalik Ram Ghimire, Prakash Gyawali, Madhu Aryal and Dr. Yogendra Agrahari. The name of youth leader Sagar Dhakal, who contested election in Baitadi to challenge NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, is also under discussion within the RSP.
Within the RPP, discussions are ongoing about honoring Bohora’s legacy by fielding a family member. His sons—pilot Gaurav and engineer Prajjwal—are said to be among the contenders. Former Siddharthanagar Mayor Sagar Pratap Rana has also expressed interest.
Adding to the mix, Madhes-based parties are in talks to field a common candidate under the banner of the Federal Democratic Madhesi Front. The Nagarik Unmukti Party has entrusted the selection to its influential patron Resham Chaudhary, signaling potential shifts in electoral dynamics.
As parties scramble to lock in their contenders, Rupandehi-3 is shaping up to be more than just an electoral contest—it’s a clash of legacies, personal ambitions and political recalibrations.
