KATHMANDU: More than a dozen of journalists have filed their candidacies for the March 5 election to the House of Representatives (HoR), marking a notable shift from newsroom to active politics.
Although the trend of journalists stepping into politics is not new in Nepal, their participation has witnessed a noticeable surge in the upcoming election.
Journalist and outgoing Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Jagadish Kharel, resigned from the post and filed candidacy from Lalitpur constituency-2, representing the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).
A television programme presenter Rishi Dhamala filed candidacy from Rautahat constituency-4 on the behalf of the Aam Janata Party while RSP has also fielded journalist Kabir Rana from Bhaktapur constituency-2.
Similarly, media professional Manarishi Dhital is running for the election from Jumla constituency-1 representing the Pragatishil Lokatantrik Party while Dr Dipendra Rokaya is contesting in Humla district as a Nepali Communist Party candidate.
The same party has fielded journalist Rupa Maharjan for Kathmandu constituency-10, while Ajay Babu Siwakoti of Nepali Congress from Dolakha constituency-1.
Also, Uddabraj Bhetwal is contesting in Kathmandu constituency-6, representing the RSP while Swagat Nepal from the same party in Jhapa constituency-2.
Former journalist Surya Bahadur Thapa Chettri has filed his nomination from Pyuthan district, representing the CPN (UML).
Additionally, RSP’s President Rabi Lamichhane along with Deepak Bohora, Sobita Gautam and Nisha Dangi of the same parties, who all have journalistic backgrounds, are also contesting in the upcoming election.
Among them, Lamichhane, Gautam and Dangi were elected in the previous HoR election held in 2022.
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