KATHMANDU: An electoral showdown is set to unfold as 47 candidates from prominent political parties in Nepal gear up for the National Assembly (NA) election scheduled for January 25. With the tenures of nine MPs from UML, four from Nepali Congress, three from Maoist Center, three from the Unified Socialist Party, and one from Janata Samajwadi Party nearing an end in March, this election will fill the vacant posts.

The competition is poised to be a clash between the ruling alliance, comprising Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), and Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), and the main opposition party CPN-UML, along with the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP).

The ruling alliance has strategically agreed to share seats, with 10 allocated to Nepali Congress, six to CPN (Maoist Center), two to CPN (Unified Socialist), and one to JSP. On the other hand, CPN-UML and RPP have declared their intention to field 19 and nine candidates, respectively.

The nominated candidates from Nepali Congress cover diverse provinces, including Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Anand Prasad Dhungana, Bishnu Devi Pudasaini, Jeetjung Basnet, Krishna Rokaya, Narayan Dutta Bhatta, Baldev Bohara, Padam Bahadur Pariyar, Kiran Babu Shrestha, and Bishnu Devi Sapkota.

CPN (Maoist Center) is fielding Champadevi Karki, Shreekrishna Adhikari, Manrupa Sharma, Jhakku Prasad Subedi, Bishnu Bishwakarma, and Renu Chand.

The CPN (Unified Socialist) has nominated Ghanshyam Rijal Biswakarma from the Dalit cluster in Bagmati Province and Sabitri Malla from Dailekh for the Female cluster in Karnali Province.

Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) Nepal has put forward Puja Chaudhary, securing one seat for women in the coalition.

Within Bagmati Province, the RPP is backing candidates in four key constituencies:

Nanu Nagarkoti – Women

Bharatmani Bhatta – Minorities

Purna Bahadur BK – Dalit Community

Hemjan Gurung – Other Categories

In Gandaki Province, the RPP has nominated:

Gaumati Shrestha – Women

Rom Bahadur Bhandari – Other Categories

For Lumbini Province, the endorsed candidates are:

Niranjan Thapa

Bijayalaxmi Singh

Additionally, the CPN-UML has made strategic nominations for regional representation:

Usha Devi Tharuni (Parsa) – Women (Madhes Province)

Dr. Arjun Kumar Singh Rajput (Mahottari) – Other Categories (Madhes Province)

Bagmati Province will witness the following nominees:

Rochkumari Chaulagai (Dolakha) – Women

Trilochan Nirmal Poudel (Chitwan) – Disabled-Minorities

Bibek Devkota (Kathmandu) – Disabled-Minorities

Dhruba Raj Bishwakarma (Dhading) has been confirmed as the Dalit representative.

Gandaki Province’s candidates include:

Yamanda Devkota (Gorkha) – Women

Chakra Bahadur Parajuli (Syangja) – Other Categories

Hemandra Sherchan (Mustang) – Disabled-Minorities

Lumbini Province will be represented by:

Tulsa Kumari KC (Dang) – Women

Jhapendra Bahadur Gharti Chhetri (Palpa) – Other Categories

Karnali Province’s nominees:

Bimala Kumari Shahi (Humla) – Women

Dilli Prasad Bhatta (Mugu) – Other Categories

Hikmat BK (Dailekh) – Dalit

Sudurpaschim Province’s representatives are:

Sabitra Devi Ghimire (Kailali) – Women

Iswari Prasad Kharel (Kanchanpur) – Other Categories

Ram Chandra Joshi (Kailali) – Disabled-Minorities