New Faces on the Cards as Major Parties Finalize Nominations for March 5 Polls

Major political parties have completed candidate registration for the first-past-the-post electoral system for the upcoming House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5, with both the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML fielding candidates in all 165 constituencies nationwide.

According to party leaders, all UML candidates registered their nominations on Tuesday. The party has also extended support to a Rastriya Janamorcha candidate in Baglung-1. UML leader Govinda Acharya said the nominations were filed in respective constituencies as per the Election Commission’s schedule.

Of the UML’s total candidates, 14 are women. Female candidates have been fielded in constituencies including Kanchanpur-1, Nawalparasi (West)-1, Manang-1, Chitwan-3, Kathmandu-10 and Kathmandu-5, among others.

The UML has also placed significant emphasis on leadership renewal during this election. According to the party, around 55 percent of its candidates are contesting parliamentary elections for the first time, with the highest proportion of new faces in Karnali Province and the lowest in Lumbini.

Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress has also registered candidates in all 165 constituencies. Party spokesperson Devaraj Chalise said the party’s parliamentary board finalized the list of official candidates on Tuesday before nominations were filed.

The Congress has fielded candidates in 16 constituencies in Sudurpaschim, 12 in Karnali, 26 in Lumbini, 18 in Gandaki, 33 in Bagmati, 32 in Madhesh and 28 in Koshi Province.

Among senior party leaders, Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa has filed his candidacy from Sarlahi-4, marking a shift from his previous constituency in Kathmandu. General Secretary Pradeep Paudel is contesting from Kathmandu-4, while leader Guru Raj Ghimire has registered his nomination from Morang-4. Vice presidents Bishwo Prakash Sharma and Pushpa Bhusal are not contesting this election.

Former NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba along with senior leaders Ramesh Lekhak, Sujata Koirala among others will not be contesting election this year.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has registered candidates in 164 constituencies, missing only Manang. Party leaders said the omission was due to last-minute confusion regarding the party’s candidate in the district.

RSP leader Bipin Kumar Acharya said around eight percent of the party’s candidates are women. Female candidates have been fielded in constituencies such as Jhapa-1 and 2, Morang-5 and 6, Sunsari-1, Kaski-3, Jumla-1, Humla-1, Kailali-1, Dhading-1, Kathmandu-1, Lalitpur-3, Chitwan-3, Mahottari-4 and Sarlahi-1.

With nominations now complete, political parties are expected to intensify campaigning in the lead-up to the March 5 polls.