Maoist leader Devendra Paudel, who returned to the mother party deserting Naya Shakti Party coordinator Baburam Bhattarai as his close aide two months ago, has got the left alliance’s ticket in Baglung-2 for the federal parliamentary elections scheduled for November 26.

Paudel had left the Maoist party after the new constitution was promulgated in 2015. In the second Constituent Assembly elections held in 2013, Paudel was defeated by a Nepali Congress candidate in Kathmandu. Baglung is Paudel’s home district. The NC, which has fielded Niraj Pun against Paudel, has a strong backing in the constituency.

During the local level elections, the Congress won top seats in Galkot Municipality, Nisikhola Rural Municipality and Tamankhola Rural Municipality whereas the CPN-UML won a majority in Dhorpatan Municipality and Badigadh Rural Municipality. The Maoist Centre had won only in Tarakhola Rural Municipality. “I hope people will vote for me as I have been with them through all the revolutions,” Paudel expressed his hope. A district leader of the CPN (Maoist Centre), Himal BK, has challenged Paudel’s nomination.