KATHMANDU, Feb 17: In the Bara-2 constituency, longstanding candidates face a tough challenge as new entrants shake up the electoral field ahead of the upcoming polls. The candidate from the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) Nepal, which won both previous House of Representatives elections in 2017 and 2022, as well as a subsequent by-election, now faces stiff competition to retain the seat.
This election sees 29 candidates from various parties vying for the constituency, including Ramkishor Yadav of JSP-Nepal, Bhaiyaram Yadav of Nepali Congress (NC), Balbir Chaudhary of CPN-UML, Ramesh Yadav of Nepali Communist Party (NCP), Chandan Singh of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and Shivachandra Kushwaha of Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party (PLP).
Historically, Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav of JSP won this constituency in both 2017 and 2022. After being elected Vice President, a by-election in 2023 saw JSP Nepal chair Upendra Yadav winning the seat.
Voters have high expectations from new faces
This time, Ramkishor Yadav, who ran as an independent candidate in the 2022 election and supported JSP Nepal Chair Upendra Yadav in the 2023 by-election, is back in the fray. Claiming strong grassroots support, he is confident of victory.
NC candidate Bhaiyaram Yadav, meanwhile, admitted that not all party leaders and workers have supported him but praised the enthusiastic efforts of many who are working day and night for his success. He noted that in Mahagadhimai Municipality and Suryan Rural Municipality, key positions are held by NC officials, which he believes will give him an edge over other candidates.
Bhaiyaram also faces internal party opposition after contesting against former central member and district chair Radhechandra Yadav, who previously represented Bara-2 in both the 2051 BS House of Representatives and the 2013 Constituent Assembly elections. Radhechandra’s son, Rajesh Rai Yadav, is the current NC district president in Bara, and many local workers have expressed disappointment at sidelining the veteran Radhechandra.
PLP candidate Shivachandra Kushwaha highlighted his long history of political activism, from the People’s War to the Madhesh Movement, claiming that voters will back him due to his sustained contribution. Having contested five consecutive elections in the constituency, he asserted that he enjoys strong support among voters and is confident of winning this time. Kushwaha narrowly lost in 2022 by 354 votes and claims that most of those voters now back him.
CPN-UML candidate Balbir Chaudhary also expressed confidence, citing the party’s strong organization in the northern areas of the constituency. Chaudhary, who was elected from Bara-5 in the 2013 Constituent Assembly elections, argued that previous representatives had done little in Bara-2, giving him an advantage.
RSP candidate Chandan Singh claimed that despite lacking the organizational strength of NC, JSP, or UML, he enjoys strong public support. He emphasized that voters are seeking change nationwide and that he is at the center of that sentiment. Singh had previously been elected as head of Devtal Rural Municipality in 2017 and joined RSP after securing the ticket, leading to disillusionment among veteran party workers. In 2022, RSP received only 2,800 proportional votes in Bara-2.
The constituency has 113,000 registered voters and includes five local units with 44 wards: Devtal, Pachrauta, Karaiyamai Rural Municipalities, Gadhimai Municipality, and Ward No. 8 of Kolhabi Municipality.
