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The upcoming House of Representatives election on March 5 in Kathmandu Constituency Number 4 is more than a contest for a single seat, it is a litmus test between long-entrenched political forces and an emerging wave of change. With high-profile incumbent Gagan Thapa shifting to Sarlahi-4 and the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) fielding a strong candidate, Pukar Bam, the electoral landscape has been fundamentally reshaped.

A closer look at the 2022 election results reveals a striking trend. At the time, RSP did not field a candidate under the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system, yet it still secured 9,412 votes under proportional representation (PR). This signaled a substantial base of voters yearning for change.

In comparison, the Nepali Congress (NC) secured 21,302 direct votes but only 11,808 PR votes, suggesting that roughly 9,494 votes were driven more by Thapa’s personal appeal than by party loyalty. Similarly, CPN-UML received 13,855 direct votes but only 10,560 PR votes. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) also demonstrated a notable presence, earning 6,881 PR votes despite limited direct support.

These figures suggest that with Thapa out of the race, a large share of these “floating” votes could pivot toward RSP’s Bam. For RSP, beginning from a baseline of nearly 10,000 votes without a direct candidate in the last election, Bam’s organized campaign and growing personal credibility create a realistic path to victory.

Congress candidate Sachin Timalsina, by contrast, is a fresh face, and it appears unlikely that Thapa’s personal legacy will seamlessly transfer to him.

CPN-UML’s Rajan Bhattarai is contesting from Kathmandu-4 for the third time. Although he secured 13,855 votes in the last election, his challenge has grown more difficult. With shifting urban sentiment and the rise of GenZ voters, even UML’s traditional core base of around 10,000 votes no longer appears fully secure.

Bam’s candidacy stands out for several compelling reasons. Known for his youth and consistent activism, particularly through civic movements such as ‘Enough is Enough’, Bam is widely viewed by politically conscious voters in Kathmandu as a “doer” who understands grassroots concerns. He also benefits from a strong organizational base, with RSP having secured 9,412 proportional representation votes in the 2022 election despite not fielding a direct candidate. 

In the absence of Thapa, an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 swing voters from the Congress camp could gravitate toward Bam, especially as many Congress loyalists remain dissatisfied with Thapa’s decision to leave Kathmandu-4 and hand the candidacy to a new face despite internal competition. There is also speculation that the Sher Bahadur Deuba camp may not fully back Timalsina due to his close association with Thapa. 

Moreover, Bam’s appeal extends strongly to new voters: of the 76,141 registered voters in the constituency, a significant share belongs to the younger generation, an electorate increasingly inclined to move beyond traditional “pocket-vote” politics and embrace new leadership.

“I have always stood on the front lines for good governance, accountability, and democracy,” Timalsena says. “I am a voice raised from the streets, and it is from those very streets that I gained the conviction that change is possible. The transformations we have witnessed were born from the power of the people in the streets. My resolve now is to institutionalize that change within Parliament, bringing the energy of the youth, the expectations of the public, and an unwavering faith in democracy to the legislative level. This is not a solitary journey; it belongs to all of us. The voice of the street must reach the halls of Parliament, and we will be the ones to take it there.”

“The upcoming election is not a mere ordinary competition,” UML’s Bhattarai writes on Facebook. “It is a clear choice between validating murder, violence, arson, and anarchy, or choosing peace, the rule of law, and the supremacy of the Constitution. This is a decisive trial between right and wrong, the civilized and the uncivilized, and between a character of integrity and one of corruption.”

Voters in Kathmandu Metropolitan wards 1, 7, 8, and 30, as well as 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 of Budhanilkantha, are historically known for exercising discretionary voting behavior. With an estimated turnout of around 50,000, the winning threshold is likely to fall between 16,000 and 18,000 votes.

If Bam retains RSP’s previous PR votes and captures even 30 percent of the disgruntled or new voters from the NC and UML blocs, he could comfortably cross the 18,000 mark.

In the absence of Thapa, Kathmandu-4 voters now face a clear choice: opt for a transferred legacy or embrace new leadership. Between Bhattarai’s third attempt and Timalsina’s struggle to defend a borrowed fortress, Bam’s Ghanti (RSP symbol) is ringing a message of change through the streets of Kathmandu. If voters prioritize track records and fresh perspectives over tradition, March 5 may not repeat history, it may rewrite it.

A youth-led initiative has successfully provided electricity to 50 previously unserved households in Darchula district through the installation of solar power systems, marking a significant step toward improving energy access in remote areas of Nepal.

The project, led by Manyata Neupane and supported by team members Shayna Shrestha, Kaibalya Bahadur Bista, Aarav Karki, Shreyash Pokharel, and Shambhavi Khadka, aimed to electrify homes in Api Municipality–1, Siti Village, where residents had no access to the national power grid or alternative energy sources.

The team began working on the project on 27 Dec 2024, after identifying the village through online research and government census data that showed the area remained without electricity. Following the identification of the site, the team mobilized financial and technical resources to implement the project, which had an estimated total cost of Rs 1.38m.

Funding and technical support were provided by Api Power Ltd and Miss Perry Keil Thapa, while Gham Power Ltd supplied and installed the solar systems. Each household received a single-home solar unit capable of powering four to five LED lights, along with instructions on proper maintenance and usage.

In Nov 2025, team members Manyata Neupane, Kaibalya Bahadur Bista, and Shreyash Pokharel traveled to the village by trekking through the Api Base Camp route to conduct field surveys and finalize implementation plans with local representatives, including Village Chairman Pokhar Lothyal. The installation process was completed on 25 Nov 2025.

According to the project budget, the total cost for solar equipment, transportation, labor, and taxes amounted to Rs 1,387,925. The project was carried out with formal approval from the Government of Nepal, and a completion letter has confirmed the successful delivery of the initiative.

Local residents have welcomed the project, saying access to electricity will improve daily life, enable children to study after dark, and reduce dependence on traditional lighting sources.

State-owned Nepal Telecom (NT) has cancelled its Rs 5bn procurement of a new billing system from Chinese technology giant Huawei, even though the bidding process had reached its final stage. The decision ends a tender that had been controversial from the beginning and raises fresh questions about governance, data security, and geopolitics in the country’s strategic telecom sector.

NT opened a tender for the system on March 18 last year. Although it shortlisted Huawei and WhaleCloud, the latter was disqualified at the technical proposal-stage. On Aug 31, NT formally invited Huawei’s representatives for the opening of the financial proposal scheduled for September 15. 

The process, however, never reached that point. The financial proposal opening was first postponed to Sept 24 following the GenZ protests of Sept 8 and 9 that toppled the KP Oli-led government. It was again postponed on Sept 4 until further notice. Days later, NT cancelled the entire procurement process, stating that a new tender would be called shortly.

Although then Minister for Communication and Information Technology Jagdish Kharel had given the go-ahead to the Nepal Telecom management, sources say the cancellation came after instructions from higher authorities. According to officials familiar with the process, geopolitics played a decisive role.

Huawei faces heavy restrictions in several countries, including the United States, over national security concerns. Western governments have repeatedly warned that Chinese telecom equipment could expose sensitive data to state influence. Although Nepal has not formally banned Huawei, the pressure of operating a state-owned telecom company in a polarized global technology environment is growing.

But geopolitics was not the only factor. The tender had been disputed since its announcement. Critics accused NT of structuring the bid to favor a single vendor and undermining fair competition. Questions were also raised about the violation of a directive order issued by the Supreme Court, which had clearly warned against awarding both the core network and billing system to the same supplier. 

The court, in its order dated 10 Sept 2024, had stated that the billing system procurement must ensure the protection of fundamental rights, including personal data. It said that the vendor supplying the billing system should not be in a position to access personal data through the core network. It also warned that using the same supplier for both systems could create a conflict of interest and pose information security risks. In simple terms, the ruling effectively meant that Nepal Telecom should maintain separate vendors for its core network and billing system.

In a telecom network, the core network is the central system which handles all voice calls, data routing, switching, roaming, and mobility management. It also generates call detail records (CDRs), which contain sensitive information about who called whom, when, and for how long. The billing system is responsible for converting network usage into money. It calculates charges, prepares invoices, deducts balances, and enables packages and offers. It can work in real time, such as through an online charging system, or in non-real time, through offline billing. Since both systems are critical and sensitive, many telecom operators globally use separate vendors for them. This separation reduces security risks, avoids monopoly control, and makes fault isolation easier when something goes wrong.

Nepal Telecom’s core network is built by Huawei. Its existing billing system, however, has been supplied by Asia Info since 2011. The original contract was for three years, but instead of launching a fresh tender, NT repeatedly extended Asia Info’s contract. Citing irregularities in the contract extension process, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed a case at the Special Court against former managing director Sangeeta Pahadi Aryal and others. The case is still under consideration.

The attempt to replace Asia Info with Huawei would have brought both the core network and billing system under a single vendor. That triggered alarms among experts and regulators.

Ganesh Gautam, associate professor at Pulchowk Campus, had advised NT that although a single-vendor model might offer minor operational convenience, the risks far outweighed the benefits. He warned of data security vulnerabilities, reduced transparency, difficulty in fault diagnosis, and the danger of vendor lock-in.

“If one system is compromised, the same method can be used to breach the other,” he explained. “When systems are supplied by different vendors, the chance of identical security weaknesses is very low.”

Gautam also said that if one system goes down due to a technical flaw, the other may also fail if both are supplied by the same company. 

Global Telco Consult, an international advisory firm, had also advised NT that awarding both systems to the same vendor could create conflicts of interest.

Many leading operators have separate vendors for core and billing systems. Even Ncell, Nepal’s private telecom operator, initially used Huawei for both. In 2018, it brought ZTE on board as its billing system provider to reduce dependence on a single vendor.

The cancellation of the Huawei contract, therefore, appears less like a sudden decision and more like the inevitable outcome of legal, technical, and political pressure converging at one point. The larger question now is whether Nepal Telecom can restart the process in a transparent and competitive manner. 

Nepal has completed candidate nominations under its First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) electoral system, marking a critical step toward the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for March 5. The process concluded largely peacefully, easing concerns about political instability.

Nepal’s federal parliament consists of 275 members, with 165 elected through the FPTP system and the remaining 110 through proportional representation (PR). With nominations now finalized, the Election Commission is moving ahead with the election calendar. Below are ten developments emerging from the nomination process that merit attention.

According to Nepal’s Election Commission, 3486 candidates have filed nominations under the FPTP system. Out of the total candidates, there are 3,089 men, 396 women, and one person from other categories. This figure is expected to decline slightly as parties negotiate withdrawals. Separately, 3,293 candidates from 63 political parties have registered under the proportional representation system.

Political parties have introduced a notable number of first-time candidates, reflecting growing public pressure for political renewal. Analysts link this trend partly to youth-led protests in September that called for accountability and generational change. The Nepali Congress, one of the country’s largest parties, has nominated 106 new candidates out of its 165 FPTP slots. The CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center), and the newly formed Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) have also fielded a large number of new contenders.

In contrast to the 2017 and 2022 elections—when major parties formed electoral alliances—no formal pre-poll coalitions have been announced this time. Major parties, including the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, RSP, and the Nepali Communist Party, have fielded candidates in most constituencies. While limited seat adjustments may still occur, parties appear to be testing their individual electoral strength.

Despite constitutional commitments to inclusivity, candidate representation under the FPTP system remains uneven. Women, indigenous communities and other marginalized groups are underrepresented. While proportional representation lists are legally required to ensure diversity, no such obligation exists under FPTP, resulting in only about 400 female candidates 

One of the most closely watched races is in Jhapa-5, where former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli faces former Kathmandu mayor Balen Shah, a popular independent figure known for his anti-establishment appeal. The constituency drew nationwide attention during nominations, with competing demonstrations of political strength and minor clashes reported.

Several senior leaders are contesting from strategically significant constituencies. Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa has moved from his traditional stronghold in Kathmandu to Sarlahi-4 in the southern Madhes region. Former Prime Minister and Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal is contesting from Rukum (East), a historic center of the Maoist insurgency. Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has reversed an earlier decision not to contest and is running from Gorkha-2. RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane is contesting from Chitwan-2, while former top bureaucrat Kul Man Ghising is running from Kathmandu-3. Veteran leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, a dominant political figure since the 1990s, has opted not to contest this election.

Unlike in previous elections, a significant number of journalists have entered the electoral race, underscoring public distrust in traditional political elites and the media’s expanding role in politics. Television host Rishi Dhamala and several other journalists are contesting. Nepal’s state-run news agency reports that more than a dozen journalists are running for office.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party, which emerged as a major political force in the 2022 elections, has fielded candidates in 164 of Nepal’s 165 constituencies, excluding the remote Himalayan district of Manang. This positions the party alongside established parties and reflects its rapid organizational growth. The monarchist Rastriya Prajatantra Party has also fielded candidates nationwide.

Nepal’s Supreme Court has refused to intervene in internal disputes within the Nepali Congress, refusing to issue a stay order that could have delayed the election process. The decision has removed a major legal obstacle and allowed the Election Commission to proceed as scheduled. Four cabinet ministers resigned to contest the elections, drawing criticism from civil society groups and opposition figures. Critics argue that ministers should prioritize ensuring free and fair elections rather than seeking electoral office, while supporters defend the resignations as consistent with democratic norms.

Forum of Neplease Journalist  has decided to confer the Shri Umakant Paudel Memorial Journalism Award on senior journalist Shiromani Dawadi. The decision was taken at a meeting held on Saturday at Lakuri Bhanjyang, Lalitpur. The Forum honored Dawadi in recognition of his nearly three decades of active contribution to various media outlets.

The award was established in memory of late Umakant Paudel, father of former General Secretary of Forum of Neplease Journalist, Ram Paudel. The award selection committee, formed under the coordination of Vice President Bimal Thapa, selected Dawadi for this year’s honor.

According to Forum President Yubaraj Bidrohi, the award will be formally presented to Dawadi during a special ceremony on Chaitra 30 on the occasion of the establishment day of Nepal Journalists Forum.

Meanwhile, the meeting also announced the establishment of the Shri Indraprasad–Yanakumari Acharya Memorial Educational Journalism Award, instituted in memory of the late parents of educationist Narayan Acharya—Yanakumari Acharya and Indraprasad Acharya. The award, carrying a cash prize of Rs 11,111, will be presented annually to one journalist who has made a significant contribution in the field of educational journalism.

The Forum expressed gratitude to the Paudel and Acharya families for instituting the awards and stated that Forum of Neplease Journalist has been honoring journalists with awards in 10 different categories every year in recognition of their contributions to journalism.

The local administration in Baitadi has urged all concerned to submit the licensed weapons registered in individual names in the wake of forthcoming elections to the House of Representatives.

For the purpose of making the HoR elections scheduled for March 5, the district administration urged the people for arms submission if they have kept the arms and ammunition with license.

Assistant Chief District Officer Krishna Thapa issued a directive to all concerned ones to provide the individual licensed weapons to the authority. They can submit the weapons to the District Police Office and local administration or any police office at their convenient places before February 3.

The District Administration Office, Rupandehi has issued a similar directive to submit the weapons kept individually by taking license. The district people bearing such weapons are asked to hand over the weapons before January 29.

The District Administration Office, Lamjung has given a February 3 deadline for the submission of the licensed weapons. It is said more than 1,000 persons have possessed such weapons in the district.

The local administrations have warned of legal actions if the licensed armed and ammunition are not handed over to the authority. The offices made it clear that the weapons would, however, be returned to the respective persons after the HoR elections are held successfully.

The districts have been making other security arrangements for the safety at poll centers and security to candidates in the March 5 HoR elections.

The nominations under the direct election, first-past-the-post, of 165 members of HoR were conducted peacefully across the country on Tuesday.

CPN-UML Secretary Mahesh Basnet has filed his candidacy from Bhaktapur constituency 2 for the House of Representatives elections.

Basnet registered his candidacy by reaching the office of the election officer along with party leaders and cadres.

Rastriya Swatantra Party senior leader Balendra Shah (Balen) has filed his candidacy from Jhapa constituency 5 for the House of Representatives elections.

Shah registered his candidacy by reaching the office of the election officer at the Organic Agricultural Market in Damak.

Bheshraj Bhattarai proposed Shah’s candidacy while Bhuminanda Baral seconded the proposal.

Meanwhile, CPN-UML Chairman and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has registered his candidacy from the same constituency.