KATHMANDU, Feb 7: Rukum East, once the epicentre of the armed conflict led by the then CPN (Maoist), has once again come into sharp political focus. With the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5, the district has drawn national attention after Nepali Communist Party (NCP) Coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal decided to contest from this constituency.
The only Himalayan district of Lumbini Province, Rukum East remains burdened by long-standing hardships. Many villages are still disconnected from road networks, forcing pregnant women to walk for hours to reach health facilities. Access to education has not reached all settlements, and foreign employment has become the primary livelihood option for many youths. A significant number of young people have reportedly spent large sums to migrate to the United States through irregular routes. Despite having just three rural municipalities, Rukum East also holds tourism potential.
Known as a shrewd political strategist who has frequently changed constituencies, Dahal has previously contested elections from Kathmandu, Siraha, Chitwan and Gorkha. This time, he has chosen Rukum East. While Dahal has said he decided to run from the district in remembrance of the martyrs, critics argue that his real motive is to ensure an electoral victory.
The state of human and physical development in Rukum East reflects what locals describe as neglect by governments led by Dahal and by elected representatives from his party in the past. Many residents say the Maoist legacy continues to influence the simple and honest people of Rukum, even though the ideology that once mobilised them was later abandoned. Now, Dahal has returned to the same district, invoking that legacy to re-enter the electoral fray.
Injunction continues as tension flares up in Rukum East
Although Dahal claims to be honouring martyrs by contesting from Rukum East, there is no official record of the number of martyrs—those killed during the Maoist insurgency—in the district. The absence of verified data has raised questions about the politics carried out in their name. Rukum East, which emerged as the country’s youngest district after state restructuring, still lacks clear documentation on this issue.
Former lawmaker and NCP leader from Rukum, Purna Gharti, admits there is no clarity regarding the martyrs’ details. “There is no information in the latest update published in the Nepal Gazette,” he said. While CPN district in-charge Tej Bahadur Oli claims there is a list of 252 martyrs, party leader Kumari Baral disputes this figure. Speaking to Republica, she said the number should be around 256 or 259.
Local government representatives have also presented conflicting figures. Sisne Rural Municipality Chair Krishna Regmi said 59 people from the state side and nine from the rebel side were killed in his municipality. Putha Uttarganga Rural Municipality Chair Puniraj Gharti said 86 or 87 people from both sides lost their lives there. Meanwhile, Bhume Rural Municipality Chair Hom Prakash Shrestha offered a different estimate. “I don’t have exact data on whether those killed were from the state or rebel side,” he said, adding that the total number of martyrs in the district could be around 120. When figures from the three municipalities are combined, the inconsistencies become evident.
Chief District Officer Sita Pariyar said she was unable to provide confirmed data as she was outside the office, advising coordination with the assistant CDO. Assistant CDO Sameer Gautam said there is no verified figure yet. “The data needs to be traced. It may not have been separated during the district division. We will need to identify figures specific to Rukum East,” he said. Even major political parties active in the district, including the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, do not have official records of the martyrs.
Rukum East also continues to face uncertainty over its permanent district headquarters. During state restructuring on October 3, 2015, the former Rukum district was divided into Rukum East and Rukum West, making Rukum East the country’s youngest district. It has one federal constituency, two provincial constituencies, three rural municipalities and a population of 56,786. The district played a pivotal role during the Maoist conflict.
The location of the permanent headquarters remains one of the district’s biggest unresolved issues. In January 2018, during the tenure of then prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, a decision was made to shift the headquarters from Rukumkot to Golkhada in Putha Uttarganga Rural Municipality. The move triggered controversy and remains under judicial consideration.
Later, the government led by CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli published a notice in the Nepal Gazette last Shrawan, stating that Rukumkot would remain the district headquarters. A writ was subsequently filed against the decision, and the case is still sub judice. After the Supreme Court issued a priority order, Rukumkot was maintained as the headquarters for the time being. However, due to prolonged uncertainty, government infrastructure development in Rukumkot has been stalled.
Against this backdrop of unresolved issues, Dahal’s candidacy has reignited political debate in Rukum East, raising questions about development, accountability and the legacy of the conflict that once defined the district.
