KATHMANDU: The CPN-UML is set to field candidates in all 165 constituencies for the March 5 House of Representatives elections, following the split in the Nepali Congress and limited prospects for alliances with other major parties.
The party’s Secretariat will hold a meeting on Saturday at 1 pm at the central office to finalize the list of candidates, according to Meen Bahadur Shahi, coordinator of UML’s Publicity and Publication Department.
The election schedule sets candidate nominations for all 165 constituencies on January 20, prompting UML to formalize its list a week in advance. So far, around 35 leaders, including party chairman KP Sharma Oli, have been unanimously recommended by the lower committees.
With no formal alliance agreed upon, UML plans to field candidates under its Sun election symbol across all constituencies. Earlier talks between Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and UML Chairman Oli for potential coordination failed to materialize, especially after Congress split into two factions this week. Both Deuba and Gagan Thapa factions are currently seeking official recognition from the Election Commission.
Given the ongoing Congress dispute, the Election Commission may delay nominations for at least a week to ensure proper representation.
In contrast to the 2022 elections, when UML had formed alliances with the Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal in some constituencies, the party is now under pressure following the Gen-Z movement and rising influence of the Rastriya Swatantra Party led by Rabi Lamichhane.
The party faces the dual challenge of safeguarding its 2022 election gains while contesting independently amid a fragmented opposition and a dynamic political landscape.
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