KP Sharma Oli Registers Nomination from Jhapa-5, Claims No Electoral Riva
CPN (UML) Chair and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday registered his nomination for the upcoming election to the House of Representatives from Jhapa electoral constituency-5, reaffirming his bid to retain the seat he won in the 2022 general election.
After filing his nomination at the Office of the Election Officer in Jhapa, Oli expressed confidence about his prospects, stating that he has no “competitor” in the constituency. Oli, a dominant political figure in eastern Nepal, has represented Jhapa-5 in the federal parliament and remains one of the most influential leaders of the ruling coalition.
Election Officer Bidur Kumari Karki confirmed that several candidates have entered the race from Jhapa-5. Among them is senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, who had earlier registered his nomination from the same constituency. Shah resigned from his post as mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City a few days ago to contest the parliamentary election, drawing significant public and media attention to the race.
With Shah’s entry, Jhapa-5 has emerged as one of the most closely watched constituencies in the country, featuring a contest between established political leadership and newer political forces.
According to the Office of the Election Officer, a total of eight candidates have so far filed their nominations from the constituency. They include Ranjit Tamang of the Nepali Communist Party, Laxmi Prasad Sangroula of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Dharma Raj Guragain of the People First Party, Ram Bahadur Meche of the Mongol National Organisation, Sachin Rai of the Rastriya Pariwartan Party, and independent candidate Matrika Bhattarai.
Election officials stated that the nomination process is proceeding smoothly and in line with the election schedule announced by the Election Commission. Final verification of candidates and the publication of the final list will follow as per the official timetable.
Jhapa-5 has historically been a stronghold of CPN (UML), and Oli’s candidacy is expected to play a decisive role in shaping the overall electoral dynamics of the district. With prominent contenders and multiple parties in the fray, the constituency is set for an intense and high-profile electoral contest.
