National
Old foes back in race after 23 years
Nepali Congress leader Mahalaxmi Dina Upadhyay and CPN-UML leader Birodh Khatiwada are in the Makwa-npur-2 race under the first-past-the-post category of the federal parliamentary polls scheduled for December 7.Pratap Bista
Nepali Congress leader Mahalaxmi Dina Upadhyay and CPN-UML leader Birodh Khatiwada are in the Makwa-npur-2 race under the first-past-the-post category of the federal parliamentary polls scheduled for December 7.
Upadhyay is the common candidate of the “democratic” alliance whereas Khatiwada represents the left alliance in the polls. The duo’s rivalry dates back 26 years. Upadhyay and Khatiwada clashed in the parliamentary elections of 1991 and 1994. Upadhyay was defeated in both the polls.
The constituency includes Thaha Municipality, four wards of Hetauda Sub-metropolis, and four wards of Manahari, Raksirang, Kai-lash, Bhimphedi, Indra-sarowar and Makwanpur-gadhi local units. Khatiwada has got the backing of the CPN (Maoist Centre) while the Rastriya Prajatantra Party supports Upadhyay.
NC central member Upadhyay has pledged overall development of the constituency whereas Khatiwada pitches the agenda of prosperity and a stable government. Upadhyay has requested people to vote for her, accusing the communists of failing to develop the area despite winning from there several times.
Khatiwada argues that the NC had been a failure though the people elevated it to the seat of power multiple times. Khatiwada was elected lawmaker from Makwanpur thrice whereas Upadhyay, who became a state minister, was the Constituent Assembly member in 2008 and 2013. Khatiwada was out of race in the first and second CA polls.
Khatiwada and Upadhyay are registered to vote in constituency-1 even as they are contesting from constituency-2. According to the District Election Office, there are 130,805 voters in constituency-2. Eleven candidates—eight from political parties and three independents—are in the fray. Chepang and Bankariya communities also live in constituency-2, in the remote areas of Makwanpur.