KATHMANDU: Eighteen new faces, including a mix of experienced politicians and young leaders, have been elected to the National Assembly (NA), highlighting diversity and inclusive representation in Nepal’s upper house.
Elections were held on Sunday for 18 of the 19 seats whose terms expire on March 4. The Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and the Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (LSP) coordinated their candidates, while the Nepali Communist Party contested independently. Only candidates nominated through coordination secured victory.
National Assembly members are elected by provincial assembly members and local-level chiefs and office bearers. Across seven provinces, there are 550 provincial assembly members and 1,506 local-level officials, including 753 chiefs and deputy chiefs, who serve as voters. The terms of the newly elected members will begin on Falgun 21.
Among the winners are four experienced leaders who previously served in the House of Representatives:
Mahantha Thakur (Madhesh Province), 83, a long-time Nepali Congress politician, has served multiple terms in parliament, including as Deputy Speaker. Despite electoral defeats in recent years, he now moves to the National Assembly toward the end of his political career.
Ram Kumari Jhankri (Lumbini Province) entered the House via proportional representation in 2074 BS but lost in 2079 BS. Born in Gulmi, Jhankri rose through the ANNFSU, UML’s student’s wing.
Lalit Jung Shahi (Karnali Province) previously served in the Constituent Assembly and contributed to drafting the 2072 Constitution. Born in Jumla, Shahi has remained active in politics despite past electoral setbacks.
Sunil Bahadur Thapa (Koshi Province), 66, son of former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, is a former federal MP and minister. He was elected unopposed after his main competitor failed to register in time.
Roshni Meche has been elected from Koshi Province, representing the marginalized Meche community. A resident of Mechinagar-12, Jhapa, Roshni previously worked in the secretariat of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and has been active through the Democratic Indigenous Nationalities Federation of the UML. She holds a master’s degree in sociology and a bachelor’s degree in law and is expected to represent the voices of marginalized communities for the next six years.
From Madhesh Province, Dharmendra Paswan and Ranjit Karna of the Nepali Congress and Rekha Jha of the UML were elected. Paswan, a Dalit rights activist from Rautahat, has long advocated against social discrimination, while Karna, from Rajbiraj, was a former president of the Nepal Students’ Association.
Som Portel, elected from Koshi Province under the Dalit quota, emphasized youth representation in parliament. Born in Falgun 2035 BS, Portel has experience in local governance and development work and aims to ensure that youth voices are heard in federal policymaking.
From Bagmati Province, Geeta Devkota (Nepali Congress) and Dr. Prem Dangal (UML) were elected. Devkota, vice president of the Beekeepers and Farmers’ Federation, advocates for farmers’ rights, while Dr. Dangal is recognized for his work on food sovereignty, climate change, and sustainable development.
Jagat Timilsina (Nepali Congress), a lecturer at Tribhuvan University’s Department of Management and president of the Democratic Professors’ Association, has been elected from Gandaki Province. Samjhana Devkota (UML), a veteran of the communist movement from Gorkha Municipality-3, also enters the National Assembly after several past electoral defeats.
Other winners by province
Lumbini Province: Basudev Jangli and Chandra Bahadur KC (Nepali Congress)
Karnali Province: Lalit Jung Shahi (Nepali Congress) and Mina Rakhal (UML)
Sudurpaschim Province: Khamma Bahadur Khati (Nepali Congress) and Leela Bhandari (UML)
The new National Assembly reflects a mix of seasoned leaders, minority and marginalized community representatives, and youth, marking a significant step toward more inclusive governance in Nepal.
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