KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
RSP’s Ranju Neupane wins Kathmandu-1 seat
Ranju Neupane (Darshana) of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has won the election from Kathmandu Constituency-1. According to the Office of the Returning Officer, Neupane secured 14,555 votes. Nepali Congress candidate Prabal Thapa finished second with 6,055 votes. Similarly, Rabindra Mishra of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) received 3,754 votes, while CPN-UML candidate Mohan Raj Regmi secured 1,461 votes.
Time to fulfill people’s aspirations: Ranju Darshana
Newly elected Member of the House of Representatives from Kathmandu Constituency-1, Ranju Darshana Neupane, has said the time has come to fulfill the aspirations of the people. The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) leader said her victory brings both happiness and responsibility, stressing that people’s expectations must now be addressed. Speaking briefly to the media after her election on Friday, Darshana said voters expressed their desire for change after feeling betrayed over the past three decades. “There is both happiness and challenge before us. We must now deliver,” she said.
RSP’s Shasmit wins Kathmandu-5 by wide margin
Shasmit Pokharel of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has won in Kathmandu Constituency No. 5. According to the latest vote count released by the Election Commission, Pokharel secured 17,205 votes. He previously worked in the secretariat of former Kathmandu mayor Balendra (Balen) Shah. Pokharel defeated Nepali Congress leader and former minister Pradeep Paudel, who received 5,431 votes. CPN-UML leader Ishwor Pokharel came third with 2,756 votes, while Rastriya Prajatantra Party leader Kamal Thapa received 1,102 votes.
RSP’s Biraj Bhakta Shrestha wins Kathmandu-8
Biraj Bhakta Shrestha of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has won Kathmandu Constituency No. 8, securing 24,592 votes. Suman Sayami of the Nepali Communist Party came second with 3,217 votes, while Nepali Congress candidate Sapna Rajbhandari received 2,835 votes. Shrestha had also won from the same constituency in the 2022 elections.
Rajunath Pandey triumphs over Kulman in Kathmandu-3
Rajunath Pandey of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has won the election in Kathmandu Constituency-3, defeating Kulman Ghising. Pandey secured 18,757 votes, while Kulman Ghising came in second with 11,171 votes, according to Election Officer Chamila Bhattarai. “The counting of votes has concluded, and Rastriya Swatantra Party candidate Rajunath Pandey has won by a margin of over 7,000 votes,” she stated.
RSP’s Ganesh Parajuli elected in Kathmandu-7
Ganesh Parajuli of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has been elected from Kathmandu-7, securing 27,805 votes. According to the Election Commission, his nearest rival, Pramod Hari Guragain of the Nepali Congress, received 3,982 votes. Basanta Prasad Manandhar of the CPN (Maoist) came third with 3,667 votes, while Prakash Shrestha of the CPN (UML) received 3,544 votes. With this victory, the RSP has now won in Kathmandu-1, 3, 6, 7, and 8.
Prachanda wins from Rukum East
Nepali Communist Party leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has won the House of Representatives election from Rukum East. In the election held on March 5, Prachanda secured 8,747 votes. His nearest rival, CPN-UML candidate Leelamani Gautam, received 3,017 votes.
RSP’s Shishir Khanal wins Kathmandu-6 by huge margin
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) candidate Shishir Khanal has won the election from Kathmandu Constituency No. 6. According to Election Officer Chapala Pokharel, the vote counting for the constituency has been completed. Election Commission data show that Khanal won by a margin of 21,249 votes. He secured 27,916 votes, while Nepali Congress candidate Krishna Baniya Chhetri received 6,667 votes. CPN-UML candidate Aman Kumar Maskey finished third with 4,518 votes. Khanal had also been elected from the same constituency in the 2022 election. Earlier, RSP candidate Ranju Darshana was elected from Kathmandu Constituency-1.
RSP wave a peaceful rebellion for good governance: Baburam Bhattarai
Former Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has described the public wave in favor of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) as a peaceful rebellion by citizens seeking good governance and prosperity. Bhattarai made the remarks on social media as preliminary election results were being announced. “A nationwide wave in favor of the newly formed RSP has emerged in the general elections held under the special circumstances following the historic people’s movement. Everyone must accept that this is essentially an expression of a peaceful rebellion by ordinary citizens to fulfill their aspirations for good governance and prosperity,” Bhattarai wrote.
NC’s Tek Bahadur Gurung wins from Manang
Nepali Congress candidate Tek Bahadur Gurung has won the House of Representatives election from Manang district. Gurung secured 2,415 votes to emerge victorious, according to Chief Election Officer Ram Prasad Paudel. He had been leading the vote count from the beginning. His nearest rival, Yashoda Subedi Gurung of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), received 454 votes. Ram Bahadur Gurung (Nawin) of the Mangal National Organization secured 9 votes. Manang, which has a single constituency, recorded a voter turnout of 54.80 percent. There are around 7,000 registered voters in the district. District Election Officer Jivan Kunwar said that 45 votes were declared invalid.
NC’s Mohan Acharya claims victory in Rasuwa
Nepali Congress (NC) candidate Mohan Acharya has won the election in Rasuwa. According to the vote count, Acharya secured 10,645 votes, defeating his nearest rival Basanta Bhatta of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), who received 5,571 votes.
Kamal Thapa concedes defeat in Kathmandu-5 race
Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) leader Kamal Thapa has said he has accepted defeat in Kathmandu Constituency-5 in the House of Representatives election. Writing on social media, Thapa said he decided to accept defeat as the margin of votes was large despite the vote counting still being underway. He congratulated the winning candidate, Shasmit Pokharel of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and wished the party success across the country. Thapa expressed gratitude to voters who supported the RPP’s ‘Halo’ (plough) election symbol and thanked party cadres involved in the campaign.
NC opens account in Mustang as Yogesh Gauchan wins seat
The Nepali Congress has opened its account in the House of Representatives election from the Himalayan district of Mustang. Congress candidate Yogesh Gauchan secured victory by defeating Indra Dhara Bista of the CPN-UML. According to the final results, Gauchan received 3,307 votes, while his closest rival, Bista, garnered 1,806 votes. Gauchan won the seat with a clear margin of 1,501 votes. This marks Gauchan’s second consecutive victory from Mustang. In the 2022 Nepalese general election, he had also won the seat with 3,996 votes, defeating UML candidate Prem Prasad Tulachan, who had secured 3,078 votes.
China congratulates Nepal on elections, calls for cooperation for development
China has congratulated Nepal on the peaceful and orderly conduct of the House of Representatives (HoR) elections. Speaking at a regular press conference in Beijing on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China welcomes the successful completion of Nepal’s parliamentary elections. Her remarks came in response to a question from China’s state-run Dragon TV regarding the elections in Nepal. Mao said China is pleased to see Nepal advancing smoothly in its political process. She noted that China and Nepal are traditionally friendly neighboring countries that have supported each other in safeguarding independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Mao added that China is ready to further strengthen strategic cooperation with Nepal based on their “long-term friendship” to promote development and prosperity.
RSP dominates early vote count across Madhesh Province
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has taken a commanding lead in Madhesh Province in the ongoing vote count. Madhesh Province has 32 constituencies across eight districts. Vote counting is currently underway in 25 constituencies, while counting has already been completed in seven.
UML’s Rajan Bhattarai concedes defeat in Kathmandu-4, says he won’t contest future elections
CPN-UML candidate Dr. Rajan Bhattarai from Kathmandu Constituency-4 has said he accepts the election results with full respect. Bhattarai acknowledged that he could not win the trust of the voters and congratulated the winning candidate, Pukar Bam of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). He expressed gratitude to party workers, supporters, and the public who provided cooperation and support during the election campaign. Bhattarai, who had previously lost twice to Nepali Congress leader Gagan Thapa in the same constituency, faced defeat for the third consecutive time, this time to RSP candidate Pukar Bam. He was not even the closest rival in the race. Stating that defeat is not the final truth in politics, Bhattarai said he would take the outcome as an opportunity for self-reflection and learning. He expressed hope of regaining public trust in the future through introspection, reform, and stronger engagement with the public.
NCP’s Mahendra Bahadur Shahi wins in Kalikot
Mahendra Bahadur Shahi of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) has won the House of Representatives election from Kalikot. According to the Returning Officer’s Office, Shahi secured 11,330 votes, defeating his closest rival, Nagendra Shahi of CPN-UML, who received 10,222 votes.
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