KATHMANDU: The CPN-UML has suffered what analysts describe as one of the most humiliating electoral outcomes in its history, with all senior office-bearers contesting under the first-past-the-post system losing their races in the recently held House of Representatives election.
The election, held on March 5, has delivered a severe blow to the party’s leadership, which had secured some of the highest vote totals during the 2022 general elections.
According to vote-count updates until Sunday afternoon, UML Chair KP Sharma Oli was defeated in Jhapa-5 by senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Balen Shah, by a margin of around 49,000 votes.
Similarly, UML Vice Chair Bishnu Prasad Paudel, who had long maintained a strong electoral base in Rupandehi, suffered a heavy defeat in Rupandehi-2. RSP candidate Sulav Kharel secured victory by a margin of 43,689 votes.
Another powerful UML leader and party General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel also lost by a wide margin. He was defeated by RSP candidate Bipin Acharya.
UML Vice Chair Prithvi Subba Gurung was also defeated in Lamjung by RSP candidate Dharmaraj KC.
In Gulmi-2, another UML Vice Chair Gokarna Bista, who had consistently won the seat in previous elections, lost to RSP candidate and former police officer Govinda Panthi. Panthi secured 16,967 votes, while Bista received 16,406 votes.
UML Secretary Mahesh Basnet also faced defeat in Bhaktapur-2. RSP candidate Rajiv Khatri garnered 34,702 votes, while Basnet managed only 8,351 votes. Basnet has already conceded defeat as counting continued.
Likewise, UML Secretary Dr. Rajan Bhattarai was defeated in Kathmandu-4 by RSP candidate Pukar Bam by a margin of 20,398 votes.
In Terhathum, UML Secretary Bhanubhakta Dhakal was defeated by Santosh Subba of the Nepali Congress.
Meanwhile, in Bhojpur, UML Secretary Sherdhan Rai lost to former UML member Dhruvaraj Rai, who contested with the “Mato” election symbol. According to the final results, Dhruvaraj Rai secured 16,663 votes, defeating Sherdhan Rai, who received 14,750 votes.
The results mark a dramatic reversal for the UML, which had emerged as the most popular party by vote share in the 2022 parliamentary elections.
Political observers say the outcome reflects a major shift in voter sentiment, with the Rastriya Swatantra Party making significant gains across multiple constituencies.
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