JHAPA: Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairman Rajendra Lingden is seeking a third consecutive victory in Jhapa-3, having previously won in 2074 bs and 2079 BS with the support of the CPN-UML. This time, Lingden is contesting independently.
The race is expected to be highly competitive. The Nepali Congress (NC) has fielded Rajendra Ghimire, a local figure with strong ties to the constituency, replacing Shyam Sitaula, son of Nepali Congress leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula. The CPN-UML has nominated former Constituent Assembly member Hari Rajbanshi, while the Nepali Communist Party fields Dilliram Ghimire, and the Rastriya Swatantra Party has put forward District President Prakash Pathak, who Lingden defeated in 2079 BS.
Lingden’s decision to go solo comes after he accused UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli of suppressing the Gen-Z protests, rejecting repeated offers of alliance. Analysts note that without UML support, Lingden faces strong competition from both Nepali Congress and UML candidates, especially as Congress candidate Ghimire has a strong local presence and youth appeal following Gagan Thapa’s leadership.
Historically, Lingden’s victories relied heavily on UML support: in 2079 BS, he won 40,662 votes against Sitaula’s 37,386. In 2074 BS, he secured 44,614 votes while Sitaula received 31,162. Jhapa-3 encompasses Barhadashi Rural Municipality, Birtamod Municipality-10, Bhadrapur Municipality wards 1–8, and Kachanakawal and Haldibari Rural Municipalities, with 140,837 registered voters, including 9,415 new voters since 2079 BS.
These new voters, often favoring the Rastriya Swatantra Party, may influence Lingden’s chances, but overall, Congress’s local organizational strength poses a significant hurdle.
RSP candidate Prakash Pathak, energized by Rabi Lamichhane’s visit, predicts strong voter turnout for the RSP, while CPN-UML candidate Hari Rajbanshi relies on his prior experience as a Koshi Province MP to appeal to voters.
The combination of independent candidacy, the absence of previous UML support, and strong Congress competition makes Lingden’s bid for a third consecutive term far from certain.
Jhapa-3 race heats up as Lingden faces strong competition
The contest in Jhapa-3 is shaping up to be tightly fought, with Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairman Rajendra Lingden facing strong competition from Congress candidate Rajendra Ghimire and other parties. While Lingden remains popular due to his prior tenure and local connections, Ghimire is viewed as deeply rooted in the community and capable of mobilizing grassroots support effectively.
Political analysts note that organizational strength is a key factor this time, as both Congress and RPP have robust local structures. Former Federation of Nepali Journalists Jhapa president Taramani Sapkota observes a “narrow competition” between the two parties, adding that UML and Rastriya Swatantra Party may also secure a significant number of votes.
Lingden expresses confidence in his campaign, highlighting his direct engagement with voters and his development-focused promises. Conversely, Ghimire aims to leverage Congress’s newly consolidated leadership at the national level, claiming that technical issues led to past defeats and signaling a potential upset.
RSP candidate Prakash Pathak, energized by Rabi Lamichhane’s visit, predicts strong voter turnout for the RSP, while CPN-UML candidate Hari Rajbanshi relies on his prior experience as a Koshi Province MP to appeal to voters.
In 2079 BS, coordination between UML and RPP helped Lingden secure victory, but this election sees multiple challengers in Jhapa-3, making the race unpredictable. Analysts say the constituency could become a critical battleground, with every party facing intense competition to win over a politically aware electorate.
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