Former Speaker and Deputy Speaker Face Off in Jhapa–2, Election Battle Intensifies

Jhapa — Former Speaker of the dissolved House of Representatives, Devraj Ghimire, and former Deputy Speaker Indira Rana Magar are contesting head-to-head from Jhapa–2. Ghimire is representing the CPN-UML, while Rana Magar is contesting from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).

While the high-profile contest between UML Chair KP Sharma Oli and RSP senior leader Balen Shah in Jhapa–5 has drawn nationwide attention, the clash between the former Speaker and Deputy Speaker in Jhapa–2 has also become a major point of interest.

This time, the constituency features candidates from diverse backgrounds, including three women and two lawyers. Alongside Rana Magar, former minister Dharmashila Chapagain from the CPN and former lawmaker Sarita Prasain from the Nepali Congress are in the race. Advocate Yuvraj Sangraula is contesting as an independent candidate, while advocate Bhadrprasad Nepal (Swagat) represents the Rastriya Prajatantra Party.

Ghimire, Chapagain, and Nepal are contesting from Jhapa–2 for the second time. In the 2022 election, UML’s Ghimire won with 28,716 votes, while his closest rival, Nepal, secured 26,455 votes as an independent candidate.

Rana Magar, Prasain, and Sangraula are contesting a direct election for the first time. Rana Magar and Prasain previously served as proportional representation lawmakers. Chapagain had won the 2008 Constituent Assembly election and later served as a state minister.

Former Deputy Speaker Rana Magar is known for her work with orphaned children, though she faced controversy after being accused of misusing her official position to facilitate U.S. visa processes for five youths. Despite calls for her resignation, she declined to step down.

Congress candidate Sarita Prasain rose through the Nepal Student Union before entering parliamentary politics. Chapagain gained prominence after defeating senior Congress leader Chakra Bastola in 2008. Prasain is Bastola’s niece.

RPP candidate Bhadrprasad Nepal is a former journalist and currently a lawyer. Local voters note that while he was highly popular as an independent candidate in the previous election, his appeal appears to have declined after contesting under a party banner.

Jhapa–2 has elected Maoists in 2008, Congress in 2013, and UML candidates in both 2017 and 2022. The constituency has 147,522 registered voters, including 13,431 new voters.

In the last election’s proportional vote count, UML led with 26,490 votes, followed by RSP with 22,517 votes. Nepali Congress, RPP, and Maoist Centre received 15,498, 7,880, and 3,869 votes respectively.