Pokhara, 28 January | As the House of Representatives election draws near, Raj Kaji Gurung, a central committee member of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), has intensified his campaign in Kaski Constituency-1. Known widely by his nom de guerre ‘Karan,’ Gurung is a veteran figure in the Nepalese communist movement with a political journey spanning decades. Having entered politics during his student days, he played a pivotal role during the Maoist insurgency, leading various fronts and strengthening the party organization from underground. Gurung’s national political career reached a milestone in the 2004 (2064 BS) Constituent Assembly elections when he secured a victory from Kaski-2. However, his subsequent electoral endeavors did not yield the desired success.
Following setbacks in the 2013 (2070 BS) elections in Parbat and the 2017 (2074 BS) provincial elections in Kaski 2(2), Gurung is now testing his political fortune in Kaski-1 with a renewed strategic focus. He describes his candidacy as a necessary step to put the constitution back on the right track and to bring tangible improvements to the lives of ordinary citizens. Gurung emphasizes that he is not merely a candidate of the NCP but a common representative for all residents of Kaski-1. His campaign is built on the pillars of constitutional integrity, socioeconomic transformation, and the sustainable utilization of the rich natural resources that define the region but remain under-exploited by the local population.
A central theme of Gurung’s manifesto is the international recognition of local heritage and the economic empowerment of the constituency through tourism and natural resource management. He has expressed deep concern that despite being a historical and natural hub, many sites in Kaski-1 have failed to secure a place on the World Heritage List. By vowing to establish these priorities in the national parliament, Gurung aims to bridge the gap between potential and prosperity. As he reaches out to voters, his message remains clear: a vote for his leadership is a vote for institutionalizing the gains of the constitution and unlocking the hidden economic treasures of Kaski.
