JHAPA: Balen Shah has defeated CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli in Jhapa-5, marking the culmination of a long-standing political clash that dates back to Shah’s tenure as mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
Shah secured a landslide victory with 68,348 votes, defeating Oli by a margin of 49,614 votes in the latter’s home district. Oli managed to secure only 18,734 votes.
The rivalry between the two dates back to the period when Shah was serving as mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Oli was prime minister, during which Shah frequently accused the federal government of non-cooperation. Shah later entered the race in Jhapa-5 and went on to defeat the veteran leader by a historic margin.
With this result, the 73-year-old Oli’s long parliamentary political career appears to have reached a near conclusion. Meanwhile, Shah has emerged as a leading contender for the prime minister’s post, as the Rastriya Swatantra Party moves close to securing a near two-thirds majority in parliament.
Along with Shah’s victory, the Rastriya Swatantra Party has also won all five constituencies in Jhapa District and all six constituencies in Morang District. Nationwide, the party has so far secured victories in 60 seats and is leading in 62 others.
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