Sagar Dhakal, who emerged as the closest challenger to former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in the 2022 House of Representatives elections, has said he is preparing to contest again from Dadeldhura, this time as a Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) candidate.

Dhakal, originally from Gulmi, had contested the last parliamentary elections as an independent candidate against Deuba, who has represented Dadeldhura continuously since 1991. Deuba won the election with 25,534 votes, while Dhakal secured 13,042 votes, a result that surprised many observers.

Dhakal first came into the national spotlight when he questioned then Prime Minister Deuba on the BBC Nepali programme about the need for accountable and capable leadership, highlighting governance and education issues.

In an interview with the Post, Dhakal said he would return to Dadeldhura in the coming days to begin campaign activities. “I am contesting again from Dadeldhura. I will be going there shortly to start election preparations,” he said.

After the 2022 election, Dhakal joined the RSP. He said the party has not officially finalised its candidates for the next parliamentary election but indicated that his name is likely to be endorsed. “Formally, no one’s candidacy has been decided yet. But it is almost final in my case,” he said.

Dhakal acknowledged that several leaders within the RSP are aspiring to contest from Dadeldhura. He described the competition as natural in a democratic party and said he has been in contact with all aspirants. “It is good to have multiple aspirants. One person alone cannot represent democracy,” he said, adding that he has met all potential contenders and that they have expressed willingness to cooperate.

Addressing complaints from some local voters that he did not visit the district frequently after the election, Dhakal said the criticism was understandable but disputed the claims. He said he had travelled extensively across villages in Dadeldhura during the Gen Z movement and maintained links with the district through party networks.

Dhakal also rejected allegations that he had insulted voters by referring to them in derogatory terms after the election. “I have never used such language,” he said, adding that he had issued a clarification, which he has kept pinned on social media for the past three years.

He credited the voters of Dadeldhura for the support he received in the last election, calling the result a significant political statement. “Getting more than 13,000 votes in a place like Dadeldhura is a big achievement. That support laid the foundation,” he said.

Dhakal said the 2022 result had broader implications for national politics and encouraged challengers to contest established leaders in their strongholds. He added that the next election would focus on consolidating the base built during his previous campaign.