Pokhara, 28 January | Ganes Paudel, a prominent writer and pioneer of alternative politics in Nepal, has officially entered the parliamentary race as the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) candidate for Kaski Constituency No. 1. Paudel, who rose to political fame after contesting the Pokhara mayoral race with the ‘Walking Stick’ (Lauro) symbol in the previous local elections, is now vying for a seat in the House of Representatives. A resident of Majheripatan, Pokhara-14, Paudel is a close associate of Kathmandu’s high-profile figure Balen Shah. This time, he is campaigning alongside the RSP with a vision to institutionalize the wave of alternative politics that has swept across Nepal’s urban landscapes.
A scholar of English Literature and an MBA graduate from Pokhara University, Paudel’s background is as diverse as his political ideologies. With over 15 years of teaching experience, he is the visionary behind the ‘Random Readers Society,’ an organization dedicated to fostering a reading culture in Pokhara. In the literary world, he is celebrated for his experimental novel ‘Paitala,’ which introduced ‘absurdist’ themes to Nepali fiction. During the local polls, he led the ‘Ateri’ (Defiant) campaign, which he describes not as a mere electoral strategy, but as a form of ‘civil disobedience’ against traditional parties that have monopolized power and resources for decades.
Paudel’s political philosophy is centered on the belief that “defiance” is not about creating chaos but about refusing to accept the syndicates imposed in the name of system and procedure. He often states that as long as good people remain silent, the incompetent will continue to rule. His mission is to establish a new political culture where “ideas win and character sustains.” By representing the RSP in his home constituency of Kaski-1, Paudel aims to bring the spirit of the ‘Ateri’ movement to the national parliament. His candidacy has sparked significant interest, as voters look for intellectual and courageous alternatives to traditional political leadership in the upcoming general elections.
