KATHMANDU: Chair of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, Rabi Lamichhane, on Wednesday reached Sarlahi Constituency-4 to campaign for his party’s candidate Dr. Amresh Kumar Singh, urging voters to elect what he described as “a son of Madhesh.”
Addressing an election gathering, Lamichhane appealed to voters to ensure Singh’s victory and claimed that this time the people of Madhes would choose their own representative. In an apparent reference to Gagan Kumar Thapa, the Nepali Congress president contesting from the same constituency, Lamichhane urged locals to resist attempts by leaders coming from Kathmandu to claim Madhesi identity for electoral gain.
“This election is different from previous ones. It is special. Cast your vote for the bell symbol and help write history,” Lamichhane said, adding that he had spoken up when Sarlahi faced injustice and sought “a little justice” for himself and greater justice for the country.
From critic to party candidate
Dr. Singh, once vocal about the need to investigate Lamichhane over the cooperative case, is now contesting under the RSP banner. Previously a Nepali Congress leader, Singh had left the party ahead of the 2022 elections following differences with then party president Sher Bahadur Deuba and Arzu Rana Deuba, and won Sarlahi-4 as an independent candidate.
In the House of Representatives, Singh had strongly raised Madhes-related issues. However, political observers say repeating his previous result may not be easy this time, particularly with Thapa entering the race.
High-stakes contest
Thapa, who left Kathmandu-4 to contest from Sarlahi-4, faces a strong challenge from Singh. While the Nepali Congress claims its grassroots organization remains strong in the constituency, analysts say Singh’s familiarity with local issues and geography makes him a formidable competitor.
Lamichhane has in recent days sharpened his rhetoric against Thapa, signaling a clear attempt to prevent him from securing victory in Sarlahi-4. In 2022, RSP had indirectly supported Thapa in Kathmandu-4. However, relations soured after Thapa publicly labeled Lamichhane a cooperative fraud, prompting a public exchange in which both leaders challenged each other to quit politics if proven wrong. Despite court proceedings in the cooperative case and Lamichhane’s release on bail, neither has stepped away from politics.
Both leaders are widely seen as eyeing a larger national role after the 2082 election. Thapa is considered a contender in the prime ministerial race, while Lamichhane has backed former Kathmandu Metropolitan City mayor and senior party leader Balendra Shah as a potential prime ministerial candidate.
Campaign intensifies
Following Lamichhane’s visit, Singh has intensified his campaign, holding meetings with local voters and dissatisfied cadres from various parties. His secretariat claims that he and Lamichhane held nearly two hours of discussions on strategies to counter Thapa and mobilize support village by village.
Singh has described Thapa as a tourist candidate unfamiliar with local geography and issues, accusing him of attempting to mislead Madheshi voters. He maintains that voters will choose “their own son” over an outsider.
Tight race expected
Local observers suggest that voters are not overtly negative toward either candidate, and the margin of victory may be slim. While the Nepali Congress claims Thapa will win by more than 10,000 votes, analysts caution that Singh’s previous performance and local rapport cannot be underestimated.
In the 2022 election, Singh secured 20,017 votes, defeating the Nepali Congress candidate who garnered 18,253 votes with support from other parties. This time, Congress leaders claim party unity has strengthened Thapa’s position.
According to the Election Commission Nepal, Sarlahi-4 has 121,231 registered voters, including 8,731 newly added voters who could play a decisive role. Of the 158 polling stations in the constituency, all have been categorized as highly sensitive due to past incidents of clashes.
With both national stature and local roots shaping the contest, Sarlahi-4 is emerging as one of the most closely watched battlegrounds in the upcoming election.
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