NC leader Shahi defeated in Jumla A by NC rebel candidate
JUMLA, Nov 23: Nepali Congress (NC) candidate Lalit Jung Shahi has been defeated in the election to the Provincial Assembly of Karnali Province in Jumla A.
KATHMANDU: CPN-Unified Socialist Party has expelled five leaders of Jumla district from the party on Monday. Issue a statement in Kathmandu, Unified Socialist party General Secretary Beduram Bhusal notified that five leaders from Jumla, including central member Devi Lal Thapa, leader Adi Prasad Neupane, have been dismissed from the party responsibilities and party committee for […]
KATHMANDU, Aug 8: Gyanendra Shahi, leader of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), has announced to contest in the federal election from Jumla.
Organizing an event in the capital on Monday, Shahi said that he has decided to contest in the election from Jumla.
“I have been proposed to contest the election from Kathmandu-1 and 2, Chitwan, Jhapa and Kailali. But, I have decided to contest in the polls from Jumla.”
KATHMANDU: The ruling Nepali Congress (NC) has concluded its provincial conventions in six of the seven provinces.
Province 2, however, is yet to hold the conventions over the prolonged disputes regarding the election of delegates in five electoral constituencies.
According to results, the establishment faction led by party President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has won presidential positions in Bagmati, Karnali and Sudur Paschim provinces.
Newly elected party presidents in Gandaki and Lumbini provinces, on the other hand, belong to the rival faction considered close to senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel.
Another faction close to Krishna Prasad Sitaula has emerged victorious in Province 1.
In this story, we have compiled the election results of all six provinces along with a brief introduction of presidents in the respective provinces.
Province 1:
Uddhav Thapa, a candidate considered close to the faction led by Krishna Prasad Sitaula, won the elections to become the party’s president in Province 1. Thapa was said to have the support of the establishment faction as well. Thapa defeated his sole contender Guru Ghimire, the candidate fielded by the rival faction led by senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel, with a margin of only two votes.
Thapa, who made an entry to politics as a student leader in Shanker Dev Campus, had earlier served as Jhapa district president for two terms. He had, however, lost the two parliamentary elections.
Bagmati Province
Indra Baniya has been elected as Nepali Congress (NC) president of Bagmati Province.
Defeating Jagadish Nar Singh KC with a margin of 158 votes in the re-election held on Sunday. As none of the three candidates including Bhimsen Das Pradhan failed to secure more than 50 percent of votes, another round of voting was held for two top vote-securers --- Baniya and KC.
Baniya is considered close to party President Sher Bahadur Deuba while KC was fielded by the Ram Chandra Poudel faction.
Fourteen of the 2,026 votes cast were invalidated. While Baniya secured 1,085 votes, Singh managed to win 927 votes.
Baniya has been actively engaged in the NC since 1987. He had served as the party’s Makwanpur district president, district secretary of Tarun Dal [NC’s youth wing] and district president of Tarun Dal as well.
He was elected as a member of the Constituent Assembly (NA) in 2013.
Baniya, who had also served as the minister of state for two times, has been leading the province as the NC’s parliamentary party leader in Bagmati. He emerged victorious in the provincial elections in 2017 from Makwanpur 2-B.
Gandaki Province
Shukra Raj Sharma, leader considered close to the Ram Chandra Prasad Poudel-led faction of NC, has been elected the President of the party. He defeated his contender Arjun Joshi, the candidate fielded by the Deuba faction.
Sharma, the first NC president of Gandaki, had led the First People’s Movement in 1990 as the Kaski district commander.
He had also served as the Kaski district president, however, failed to register a victory in parliamentary elections in 1990, 1994 and 2017.
Bypassing several aspirants from within the party, Sharma succeeded in becoming the common candidate of the senior leader Poudel and General Secretary Shashank Koirala.
Lumbini Lumbini
Amar Singh Pun has registered a victory against his rival Bharat Kumar Shah to be elected as the Lumbini Province president.
Pun, considered close to the Poudel faction in the party, garnered as many as 852 votes against 767 secured by his contender Shah, who was fielded by the establishment faction led by party President Sher Bahadur Deuba.
Pun served as immediate past party president in Rolpa district.
He, who had been a member of the Second Constituent Assembly through the proportional representation system, served also as a minister of state for irrigation.
Karnali Province
Lalit Jung Shahi of the establishment faction has been elected the Karnali Province president. Shahi defeated his rival Bhupendra Jung Shahi with a margin of 105 votes. While Shahi secured 422 votes, his contender got only 317 votes.
Newly elected provincial president Shahi took the membership of the NC in 1980. He subsequently served as NC’s Jumla district secretary, Kalikot in charge and Jumla district’s acting president.
Shahi, who had won the 2013 CA elections from Jumla district, is the only Congress leader to win parliamentary elections in the district
He recently switched his camp from the Poudel faction and joined the establishment faction.
Sudur Paschim Province
Bir Bahadur Balayar, the candidate fielded by the establishment faction, has been elected as the party’s Sudurpaschim Province president.
Of the 1,003 votes cast in Saturday’s polls, Balayar secured 688 against 280 garnered by his rival Narayan Dutta Mishra.
Balayar started his political career in his early days in Doti’s Sitaram Secondary School. He was later elected as the Nepal Student Union president of the Tribhuvan University (TU) branch.
He had also been deployed as the security coordinator to oversee security matters at the Chaksibari-based residence of NC leader Ganesh Man Singh during the 1990 people’s movement.
He had also served as the party’s Doti district president.
He, who had lost the 2008 CA elections, emerged victorious in the 2013 CA elections and also served as a minister under the Deuba-led Cabinet.
KATHMANDU: Forty-four of the 77 districts have accomplished conventions as the part 14th General Convention of the ruling Nepali Congress (NC).
The district-level conventions have so far concluded in 10 districts of Province 1, four of Bagmati, six of Gandaki, eight in Lumbini, nine of Karnali and 6 in Sudur Paschim provinces.
According to results, two rival factions in the party --- one led by President Sher Bahadur Deuba and the other by senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel--- have claimed victory for the position of district president in five districts each.
The party’s district conventions in eight districts of Province 2, however, are still uncertain. Sarlahi is yet to hold the ward-level conventions while other districts are holding local and provincial level conventions.
Only four districts in Bagmati Province have so far completed conventions with two factions sharing two district presidential positions each.
The party, which has been leading the federal government since CPN-UML’s KP Sharma Oli was ousted from power in July, witnessed the completion of district conventions in six districts of Gandaki Province. While the Deuba faction has clinched district president positions in four districts, the Poudel faction registered victory in two districts. Senior leader Poudel himself belongs to Tanahun, one of the districts in the province.
The position of the Deuba faction in Lumbini Province is weaker than that of the rival faction as the party held conventions in eight of the 12 districts. The results show that the Poudel faction has so far won six district presidents leaving only two to the establishment faction.
The Deuba faction, which had won only one district presidential position in the last convention, has made a comeback, winning in eight districts out of nine.
The Poudel faction, on the other hand, has improved its position in Sudur Paschim, the province where party President and Prime Minister Deuba belongs to. Compared to its win in two districts in the 13th General Congress, the rival faction has so far reclaimed in three districts’ presidential positions.
Of the forty-four districts, the Deuba faction has won presidential positions in 24 districts and the Poudel faction in 20 districts.
Check the complete province-wise list below:
PROVINCE 1
Deuba Faction
1. Gajendra Tumyahang- Taplejung
2. Rup Narayan Jabegu- Panchthar
3. Tejendra Khanal- Okhaldhunga
4. Dambar Khadka - Ilam
Poudel Faction
1. Dipak Khadka -Sankhuwasabha
2. Arjun Bahadur Tumbahamfe- Tehrathum
3. Bishu Rai - Khotang
4. Binod Bantawa - Bhojpur
BAGMATI PROVINCE
Deuba Faction
1. Kanchha Ram Tamang - Ramechhap
2. Tirtha Lamal - Kavrepalanchowk
Poudel Faction
1. Ramesh Mahat- Nuwakot
2. Barma Lama- Dolakha
GANDAKI PROVINCE
Deuba Faction
1. Kishor Dutta Baral- Kaski
2. Shankar Gurung- Manang
3. Khamabi Garbuja- Myagdi
4. Dr Takraj Gurung- Lamjung
Poudel Faction
1. Nanda Prasad Neupane- Gorkha
2. Raju Thapa- Syangja
3. Romi Gauchan Thakali- Mustang
LUMBINI PROVINCE
Deuba Faction 1. Ram Krishna Khand- Rupandehi
2. Keshar Man Roka - Rukum (East)
Poudel Faction
1. Himal Dutta Shrestha -Palpa
2. Kishor Acharya- Rolpa
3. Bishnu Kumar Giri - Pyuthan
4. Keshab Shrestha - Arghakhanchi
5. Shankar Dangi - Dang
6. Arjun Kumar Pokharel - Nawalparasi (West)
KARNALI PROVINCE
Deuba Faction
1. Mohan Bikram Singh- Humla
2. Prem Prakash Oli- Rukum (West)
3. Bedraj Singh - Jajarkot
4. Ain Bahadur Shahi- Mugu
5. Keshar Bahadur Bista- Salyan
6. Khadak Pokharel- Surkhet
7. Dipendra Bahadur Shahi- Dolpa
8. Karna Bahadur Shahi- Jumla
Poudel Faction
1. Ammar Bahadur Shahi - Kalikot
2. Mani Ram Regmi- Dailekh
SUDUR PASCHIM PROVINCE
Deuba Faction
1. Bhim Bahadur Saud- Dadeldhura
2. Khadak Bohora- Bajhang
3. Narendra Bahadur Singh- Doti
Poudel Faction
1. Ram Singh Rawal- Bajura
2. Chatur Bahadur Chand- Baitadi
3. Lalit Singh Bohora- Darchula
KATHMANDU: The ruling Nepali Congress (NC) has elected the new leadership of the party for the next five years as a part of the 14th General Convention of the party in 30 districts of the total of 77.
The establishment faction led by President Sher Bahadur Deuba, who is also the incumbent prime minister, has so far claimed victory for the presidential positions in 17 districts while 13 other district presidents are considered close to the opposition faction led by senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel.
The result showed that the Deuba faction registered victory in eight districts where the Poudel faction had won in the 13th General Convention.
It is to be noted that as many as 17 district presidents, who were elected in the 13th General Convention, were considered close to senior leader Poudel. Similarly, the Deuba panel registered victory in 12 districts. The establishment faction has emerged strong in Province 1 and Karnali provinces.
The party is yet to elect the leadership in 40 other districts.
On the other hand, the Poudel faction has snatched the leadership from the rival faction in five districts.
Where Poudel faction loses the command of the district presidents
1. Dolpa: Dipendra Bahadur Shahi (Angat Kumar Budha won in last convention)
2. Jumla: Karnaa Bahadur Shahi (Dip Bahadur Shahi won in last convention)
3. Lamjung: Dr Tak Raj Gurung (Bhesh Bahadur Poudel won in last convention)
4. Panchthar: Rup Narayan Jawegu (Narendra Kumar Kerung won in last convention)
5. Salyan: Kesh Bahadur Bista (Ganesh Chand won in last convention)
6. Ramechhap: Kanchha Ram Tamang (Laba Shree Neupane won in last convention)
7. Mugu: Ain Bahadur Shahi (Khadga Bahadur Sahi won in last convention)
Where Deuba faction stays undefeated
1. Dadeldhura: Bhim Bahadur Saud
2. Manang: Tek Bahadur Gurung
3. Humla: Mohan Bikram Singh
4. Taplejung: Gajendra Tumhyang
5. Myagdi: Kham Bahadur Garbuja
6. Bajhang: Khadak Bohora
7. Jajarkot: Bedraj Singh
8. Doti: Narendra Singh
9. Okhaldhunga: Tejendra Khanal
10. Rukum (West): Prem Prakash Oli
Where Poudel faction emerges as new power
1. Rukum (East): Keshar Man Roka
It is to be noted that Rukum (East) was one of the two districts added during Nepal’s political restructuring in the Constitution of Nepal in 2015. Roka was named the coordinator of the young district after the country adopted the federal structure.
2. Dolakha : Barma Lama (former president: Rudra Bahadur Khadka)
3. Bajura: Ram Singh Rawal (contender: Kabi Raj Pandit)
4. Gorakha: Nanda Prasad Neupane (former president: Hari Bahadur Ghale)
Where Poudel faction remains intact
1. Baitadi: Chatur Bahadur Chand
2. Bhojpur : Binod Bantawa
3. Pyuthan: Bishnu Kumar Giri
4. Arghakhanchi: Keshab Shrestha
5. Mustang: Romi Gauchan Thakali
6. Sankhuwasabha: Dipak Khadka
7. Kalikot: Ammar Bahadur Shahi
8. Rolpa: Kishor Acharya
9. Tehrathum: Arjun Tumbahamfe
ITAHARI, July 4: A great warrior who lost his life in the Anglo-Nepal war some 206 years ago has been declared the new Nepali luminary on Wednesday. The government declared Bhakti Thapa as the new Nepali luminary, inviting euphoric reactions from institutions and individuals who had long been demanding luminary title for Thapa.
With the declaration, Bhakti Thapa has been placed together with 16 other luminaries of Nepal. They include Amshuverma, Amarsingh Thapa, Araniko, Gautam Buddha, Janak, Pasang Lhamu Sherpa, Prithvinarayan Shah, Balbhadra Kunwar, Bhanubhakta Acharya, Bhimsen Thapa, Mahaguru Phalgunda, Motiram Bhatta, Ram Shah, Sankhadhar Sakhwa, Tribhuwan and Sita.
Bhakti Thapa Foundation, Brave Bhakti Thapa National Unity Study Center, Puwar Thapa Chhetri Welfare Committee, among others, were institutions lobbying for the luminary title. Likewise, various individuals who have studied about the bravery and contribution of Bhakti Thapa in Nepal's unification drive and Anglo-Nepal war had also been demanding the same.
There is newfound curiosity among various people about Bhakti Thapa. Here are three facts about this legendary Nepali warrior.
1. Arrival at Kathmandu as Prisoner of War (POW)
Bhakti Thapa was born in 1742 at today's Dhangaibeshi of Marshyangdi Rural Municipality-3 of Lamjung district. Thapa is revered as one of the greatest soldiers of all time in the Nepal Army. It is interesting to note that his entry into Nepal Army was as a war captive. He had fought with Nepal Army who launched military offensive to integrate Lamjung into Nepal. It was in 1783 when the military confrontation erupted and Nepal Army deployed from Kathmandu got victory over Lamjung, the then principality but now a district of Nepal. He was brought into Kathmandu as Prisoner of War (POW). He was around 41 years when he was captured.
Despite his previous position as POW, Thapa turned loyal to Nepal Army and joined it whole-heartedly, says retired Brigadier General Prem Singh Basnyat who has written and researched on Thapa. According to Basnyat, Thapa was given an entry position called 'Suvangi' in the Nepal Army. Later on, he was promoted into 'Sardar' which was synonym of present day 'captain' of Nepal Army in 1794. This shows that within a decade of being POW of Nepal Army, Bhakti Thapa rose himself above the rank of the same organization owing to his sincerity, dedication, patriotism and military leadership.
2. Indispensible military leader to expand Nepal's unification
Integration of principalities in western Nepal was accomplished under the leadership of Bahadur Shah. Rana Bahadur Shah was the official monarch at the time. For integrating western section of today's Nepal, Bhakti Thapa was an indispensible military leader. According to military historian Prem Singh Basnyat who has 18 books to his credit, Bhakti Thapa proved his military leadership after successfully quelling revolt against Nepal in Jumla.
In 1789, Jumla was integrated into Nepal. However, the then seemingly stronger principality Jumla revolted against Nepal Army. Jumla was bolstered by additional support from Tibetan side. It was Bhakti Thapa who managed the revolt and gave no space for further revolt. Likewise, Doti also revolted against Nepal. Bhakti Thapa quelled the revolt and asserted Nepal's sovereignty there. Bhakti Thapa made huge contribution to assert Nepal's sovereignty beyond Mahakali river which is now the border between Nepal and India.
3. Oldest military official from Nepal Army who got martyrdom at the battlefield
Bhakti Thapa got martyred in the battlefield. He got martyrdom on 16 April 1815. He was 73-year-old then. According to Prem Singh Basnyat, Bhakti Thapa is the only officer from Nepal Army who was killed at that elderly age in the battlefield. ''He is my greatest iconic military officer in Nepal Army'', says Basnyat. Nepal and British India, commonly known as East India Company, fought war for consecutive two years. The official announcement of the war was proclaimed on 1 November 1814 which formally ended on 4 March 1816 after the signing of Sugauli Treaty. During the war, Bhakti Thapa is regarded as the bravest one. He breathed his last at Malaun fort which currently lies at Bilashpur or Rajgadh area of India's Himanchal Province.
According to Prem Singh Basnyat, the battle of Malaun fort was significant for three reasons. ''First, Sardar Bhakti Thapa was 73 while he was fighting the British from this fort and he was martyred here. Bhakti Thapa was actually gunned down while he was on the top of the cliff 300 yards east from Malaun'' said Basnyat, ''Second, the war at Malaun started after the British troops, defeating Nepalis in Sutlaj-Nalagadh area, advanced towards Malaun. Badi Kaji Amar Singh Thapa reached the conclusion that the war with the British could not be won and he has an agreement with Dvaid Ochterlony on 15 May1815 at this fort ceding lands from Sutlaj to Mahakali in the east. ''
He added, ''The agreement on 15 May 1815 has the provision which allows those serving in Nepali Army, those defected and even other Nepalis for legal recruitment in British Indian Army.''
KATHMANDU, July 3: Recently, Bhakti Thapa has got the new limelight. A great warrior who lost his life in the Anglo-Nepal war some 206 years ago was declared the Nepali luminary on Wednesday.
A Cabinet meeting day decided to recognize Thapa as the new national hero which has given euphoric reactions from all institutions and individuals demanding luminary declaration for Bhakti Thapa.
With the declaration, Bhakti Thapa has been placed together with other 16 luminaries of Nepal. They include Amshuverma, Amarsingh Thapa, Araniko, Gautam Buddha, Janak, Pasang Lhamu Sherpa, Prithvinarayan Shah, Balbhadra Kunwar, Bhanubhakta Acharya, Bhimsen Thapa, Mahaguru Phalgunanda, Motiram Bhatta, Ram Shah, Sankhadhar Sakhwa, Tribhuwan and Sita.
Bhakti Thapa Foundation, Brave Bhakti Thapa National Unity Study Center, Puwar Thapa Chhetri Welfare Committee, among others, were the institutions lobbying for luminary declaration to Bhakti Thapa. Likewise, various individuals who have studied about the bravery and contribution of Bhakti Thapa in Nepal's unification drive and the Anglo-Nepal war had also been demanding the same.
There is newfound curiosity among various people about Bhakti Thapa. Here are some three facts about this legendary Nepali warrior:
Arrival in Kathmandu as a war prisoner
Bhakti Thapa was born in 1742 at today's Dhangaibeshi of Marshyangdi Rural Municipality-3 of Lamjung district. Bhakti Thapa has been revered as one of the greatest soldiers of all time in the Nepal Army. It is interesting to note that his entry into the Nepal Army was as a war captive.
He had fought with the Nepal Army who launched a military offensive to integrate Lamjung into Nepal. It was in 1783 when the military confrontation erupted and Nepal Army deployed from Kathmandu got victory over Lamjung, the then principality but now a district of Nepal. He was brought into Kathmandu as a Prisoner of War (POW). He was around 41 years old when he was captured.
Despite his previous position as POW, Bhakti Thapa turned loyal to Nepal Army and joined it whole-heartedly, says retired Brigadier General Prem Singh Basnyat who has written and researched on Bhakti Thapa.
According to Basnyat, Bhakti Thapa was given an entry position called 'Suvangi' in the Nepal Army. Later on, he was promoted into 'Sardar' which was synonym of present day 'captain' of Nepal Army in 1794. This shows that within a decade of being POW of Nepal Army, Bhakti Thapa rose himself above the rank of the same organization owing to his sincerity, dedication, patriotism and military leadership.
Indispensable military leader to expand Nepal's unification
Integration of principalities in western Nepal was accomplished under the leadership of Bahadur Shah. Ranabahadur Shah was the official monarch during that time. For integrating western section of today's Nepal, Bhakti Thapa was an indispensable military leader. According to military historian Prem Singh Basnyat who has 18 books to his credit, Bhakti Thapa proved his military leadership after successfully quelling a revolt against Nepal in Jumla.
In 1789, Jumla was integrated into Nepal. However, the then seemingly stronger principality Jumla revolted against the Nepal Army. Jumla was bolstered by additional support from Tibetan side. It was Bhakti Thapa who managed the revolt and gave no space for further revolt. Likewise, Doti also revolted against Nepal. Bhakti Thapa quelled the revolt and asserted Nepal's sovereignty there. Bhakti Thapa made a huge contribution to assert Nepal's sovereignty beyond Mahakali river which is now the border between Nepal and India.
Oldest military official from Nepal Army to have got martyrdom at the battlefield
Bhakti Thapa got his martyrdom at the battlefield. He got his martyrdom on 16 April 1815. He was 73-year-old then. According to Basnyat the historian, Bhakti Thapa is the only officer from Nepal Army who was killed at that elderly age in the battlefield.
''He is my greatest iconic military officer in the Nepal Army,'' says Basnyat. Nepal and British India, commonly known as East India Company, fought war for two consecutive years. The official announcement of the war was proclaimed on 1 November 1814 which formally ended on 4 March 1816 after the signing of the Sugauli Treaty. During the war, Bhakti Thapa is regarded as the bravest one. He breathed his last at Malaun fort which currently lies at Bilaspur or Rajgadh area of India's Himanchal Province.
According to Basnyat, the battle of Malaun fort was significant for three reasons. ''First, Sardar Bhakti Thapa was 73 while he was fighting the British from this fort and he was martyred here. Bhakti Thapa was actually gunned down while he was on the top of the cliff 300 yards east from Malaun'' said Basnyat, ''Second, the war at Malaun started after the British troops, defeating Nepalis in Sutlaj-Nalagadh area, advanced towards Malaun. Badi Kaji Amar Singh Thapa reached the conclusion that the war with the British could not be won and he had an agreement with David Ochterlony on 15 May 1815 at this fort ceding lands from Sutlaj to Mahakali in the east. ''
He added, ''The agreement on 15 May 1815 has the provision which allows those serving in Nepali Army, those defected and even other Nepalis for legal recruitment in British Indian Army
