In Rupandehi-3 by-elections to be held on October 17, small political parties have started meeting voters and campaigning. However, the major political parties have not yet been able to recommend and decide on their candidates. After the death of RPP leader Deepak Bohra, who was elected to the House of Representatives in the 2079 election, a by-election is about to be held in his place.

According to the schedule announced by the Election Commission for the by-elections, only one month is left for the nomination registration of the candidates. The Commission has fixed the date of nomination of candidates on October 21. For that, the small parties RSWP, Janmaat, RPP Nepal and Janamorcha have finalized their candidates.

Candidates including some independents are now meeting and campaigning in the constituencies. However, the major parties Congress and Maoist Center have not recommended candidates yet. UML has sent the names of four people to the centre. The RPP has decided to finalize the candidates through 'primary election' after two weeks of recommending the names of four candidates to the center.

So far, the senior neurologist Dr. Lekhjung Thapa has been made a candidate. On the same day as the candidacy was announced, Thapa, who was in controversy after his two wives and the Civil Liberation Party's proportionately closed list, has been deployed in the constituency since Wednesday. Janmat Party led by CK Raut has decided to field Dhaniram Chaudhary from Siyari Rural Municipality-2 of Rupandehi. He was a candidate from Rupandehi-1 from Civil Liberation Party in the 2079 election and came third. 

Chowdhury, who had prepared to contest the election through civil emancipation, started contesting the election through public opinion due to internal disputes. "My desire is to contest the election from Dhakiya, but due to the internal dispute of the party, I could not become a candidate," he said, "that's why I am contesting the election through public opinion." I am joining the campaign after the party has given me the ticket.' He said that he is asking other Madhesist parties for their support and that there may be a common vote in his favor. Chowdhury entered the public opinion only a week ago from civil immunity.

Similarly, Kamal Thapa-led RPP Nepal has nominated Arjun Thapa as its candidate. The provincial committee of RPP Nepal sent Thapa's name to the center as one of the three people recommended by the district. Thapa is currently the Rupandehi district president of RPP Nepal. Rashtriya Janamorcha has also decided to make district president Badre Alam a candidate.

Looking for candidates Congress-Maoist, 4 recommendations from UML

The Congress, which is claiming the first power in Rupandehi-3, has not yet started the discussion about the candidates. Congress leaders say that since it is the home district of former Home Minister Balkrishna Khan, they did not proceed with the discussion about the candidate until his court verdict. Khan was defeated by 2600 votes against Deepak Bohra of RPP. Therefore, there is a possibility that he can become a candidate from the Congress in the by-elections as well. It is said that there is a possibility that Ramchandra Dhakal or Pramod Yadav will become a candidate in the absence of mining. Congress has sent General Minister Bishwaprakash Sharma twice for on-site study for the by-elections. Congress leaders have said that the final decision will be made based on that. Lumbini state president of Congress Amarsingh Pun said that the discussion has not started yet as there is no directive from the center regarding the candidates. "There is no point in discussion without instructions coming from the party center," he said, "The party is studying internally, it will be decided as soon as the instructions come." "The candidate will be decided after the center decides," District Secretary Hitraj Panthi said, "The decision is likely to be made after the legislative convention of UML is over." It is more likely that one of Khimlal Bhattarai or Shashi Paudel will be a candidate from UML. Focusing on the election, UML is also running a party entry campaign in the district.

CPN-Maoist Center has claimed that it is currently under discussion because it will raise candidates in a single effort. However, according to the sources, if the CPN United Socialist Party puts forward Ghanshyam Bhusal, the Maoists will support it. Chairman of Maoist Rupandehi Nirmal Jisi said that it is under study and will recommend to the center in a few days.

CPN Unified Samajwadi Party, LOSPA, Jaspa and other parties have not discussed the candidates. The possibility of Madhesist parties forming a common front and going to the elections or giving a single candidate is being discussed. Sources say that the Maoists and the Samajwadi Party are also considering giving a single candidate from the Samajwadi Front.