As Nepal heads toward the upcoming House of Representatives election, the Himalayan district of Myagdi—home to a single parliamentary constituency—is set to witness a competitive race involving major political parties and independent candidates.
Nepali Congress candidate Karnabahadur Bhandari (KB), CPN-UML’s Harikrishna Shrestha, CPN’s Arjun Thapa, and independent candidate Dr. Mahabir Pun have emerged as the main contenders in the constituency.
Dr. Pun’s active entry into electoral politics has created ripples in Myagdi’s political landscape. He resigned from his post as Minister for Education, Science and Technology in the interim government on the day of candidate registration and returned to his ancestral district to contest the election.
Local observer Dhananjay Kumar Shrestha of Beni said growing public interest in the Myagdi election reflects changes in the national political environment, the emergence of new political forces, the influence of competing candidates, and the strategies adopted by political parties and individuals.
“In previous elections, Myagdi often remained outside national political focus,” Shrestha said. “This time, the candidacy of Mahabir Pun, a Ramon Magsaysay Award winner, has brought the district into the spotlight. The combination of established party structures and the impact of an independent candidate has made this election particularly interesting.”
Candidates, Parties, and Electoral History
The CPN led by Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’ has fielded Kshetra Bahadur Ghimire (Dhruva), a former student union president of Myagdi Multiple Campus who was involved in underground politics during the conflict period.
Other candidates in the race include Dammar Bahadur Subedi of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Devendra Kami of the Progressive Democratic Party, Binod Rana of the Labour Culture Party, Chhema Bahadur Bishwakarma of Rastriya Janamorcha, Bhim Bahadur Lama of the Mongol National Organization, and Tul Prasad Garbuja of National Republican Nepal.
Although Rastriya Swatantra Party member Yuvraj Roka has publicly announced support for independent candidate Pun, his own candidacy remains intact.
UML candidate Shrestha is contesting the election for the second time, while all other major contenders are participating in their first parliamentary race. After the 2017 election, this is the first time parties in Myagdi are competing independently without forming electoral alliances.
In the 2022 House of Representatives election, Nepali Congress candidate Khamb Bahadur Garbuja won the seat with the backing of an alliance that included the Maoists and CPN (Unified Socialist). In the provincial assembly elections the same year, Maoist candidates Hari Bhandari and Resham Jugjali (Suvin) secured victories in the district.
Earlier, in the 2017 elections, UML candidate Bhupendra Thapa won the parliamentary seat under the then left alliance, while Maoist and UML candidates won the two provincial assembly seats. UML’s current Gandaki Province chair Navaraj Sharma had won the 2013 Constituent Assembly election, while earlier elections saw representation alternating among the Maoists, Nepali Congress, and UML.
According to official results from the 2022 parliamentary election, UML secured 18,273 votes, Nepali Congress 13,693, CPN (Maoist Centre) 9,070, Rastriya Swatantra Party 3,579, Rastriya Prajatantra Party 1,253, and CPN (Unified Socialist) 285 votes in Myagdi. Garbuja won with 24,021 votes, defeating his closest rival Shrestha, who secured 20,189 votes.
Voter Engagement and Campaign Commitments
The district has 86,397 registered voters spread across six local governments. District Election Officer Bimal Prasad Gautam said voting will take place at 82 polling stations through 120 polling centers.
Candidates are currently visiting villages to meet voters, interact with party workers, and conduct door-to-door campaigns, increasing political activity in rural areas. Karnabahadur Thapa of Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-7 said voters are listening to all candidates before making a decision.
“All candidates who come asking for votes are welcomed and respected, and we listen to their plans,” he said. “The candidate who wins the trust and confidence of the people will receive our vote.”
Similarly, Khagbir Paija of Annapurna Rural Municipality-7 said voters are carefully evaluating the ideas and commitments of all candidates before deciding.
Candidates in Myagdi have pledged to ensure the effective implementation of policies recognizing the district’s Himalayan status, promote technology-friendly public service delivery, strengthen good governance, reduce bureaucratic delays, and incorporate local needs and sentiments into laws, budgets, and development plans.
