Pokhara, 28 January | Sarlahi Constituency No. 4 has emerged as the epicenter of Nepalese politics following the candidacy of Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa. Moving away from his traditional stronghold of Kathmandu-4, where he secured three consecutive victories, Thapa’s entry into the Madhesh region has turned this election into a national spotlight. The Nepali Congress leadership has projected Thapa as the future Prime Minister, framing his candidacy as a gesture of profound respect toward the people of Madhesh. Vice-President Vishwa Prakash Sharma remarked that this move signifies a commitment to integrating the sentiments of Madhesh with national leadership, testing Thapa’s strategic prowess and popular appeal in a complex socio-political landscape.
The competition, however, is formidable as the incumbent independent lawmaker Dr. Amresh Kumar Singh seeks re-election, this time representing the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). Singh, who won the 2079 BS elections as a rebel candidate after being denied a ticket by the Congress, defeated the official party nominee by a margin of 1,764 votes. Having joined the RSP just a day before nominations, Singh aims to leverage his local influence alongside the growing organizational strength of the new party. In the previous election, Singh secured 20,017 votes, while the Congress candidate followed closely with 18,253 votes. The political dynamics are further complicated by the entry of heavyweight contenders from other major parties, ensuring a multi-polar contest rather than a simple two-way race.
The constituency features several influential leaders, including Amanish Kumar Yadav from the CPN (UML), Rameswor Raya Yadav from JSP Nepal, and Rakesh Mishra from the Janamat Party. With a total of 121,231 registered voters, including over 8,700 new voters, experts predict around 75,000 valid votes will be cast. While the local level election data shows a strong presence of Congress and Maoist ward chairs, the individual charisma of national figures like Gagan Thapa and Amresh Kumar Singh is expected to dominate the narrative. For Thapa, this election is not merely about a seat in parliament but a critical test of his leadership and the party’s strategy to expand its roots in the Terai region, making Sarlahi-4 the most watched electoral battleground in the country.
