Amidst doubts about whether to contest the election from Kathmandu or Jhapa, senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSWP) Balendra Shah (Balen) has been advised to contest the election from his birthplace, Mahottari.

A member of the RSVP secretariat informed that Balen's Janakpur visit schedule has been arranged accordingly after the suggestion of the majority of the party's secretariat members, discussions held with voters of Mahottari constituency no. 3 in Kathmandu on Tuesday, and the suggestion that the prime ministerial candidate should choose a larger area.

According to the member, Balen, who will arrive in Janakpur on the afternoon of Magh 4 along with RSVP Chairman Rabi Lamichhane, will perform puja at the Janaki Temple in Janakpur on Monday morning on Magh 5. After that, Balen will be busy with party programs throughout the day along with party president Lamichhane, vice president Swarnim Wagle, spokesperson Manish Jha, Sobita Gautam, and Rahbar Ansari, who joined the party only on Tuesday.

'A change declaration meeting has been organized on Magh 5 in Tirhutiya Ganchi, Janakpur,' said RSVP spokesperson Jha, 'All leaders will address that meeting.' The RSVP has also organized a Madhesh province-level cadre gathering in Janakpur on Magh 5 itself. According to spokesperson Jha, top party leaders will also be present at the cadre gathering.

Nominations will be registered on Tuesday, Magh 6, for the House of Representatives elections to be held on Falgun 21. According to RSVP spokesperson Jha, party president Lamichhane, who will participate in the Janakpur meeting, will return to Chitwan from Janakpur on the evening of Magh 5. He will reach Chitwan and register his nomination on Magh 6.

The announcement meeting for the changes that the RSVP is going to make in Janakpur on the day before the nomination registration is Balen's first program after joining the party. Although the leaders will return to their respective constituencies on Magh 5 after participating in the Janakpur program, Balen is scheduled to stay in Janakpur until Magh 6.

According to a RSVP secretariat member, the majority has suggested that Balen contest the election from his birthplace, Mahottari, constituency no. 3, out of Kathmandu, Jhapa and Mahottari. ‘Balen is also in constant discussions, consultations and meetings with the voters of that area,’ the member said, ‘He has also shown his interest. If everything is favorable, Balen is preparing to register his nomination from Mahottari.’

Madhesh leader Mahantha Thakur had won the last two elections from Mahottari constituency no. 3 in 2074 and 2079. Thakur, who had registered his nomination in the National Assembly elections to be held in Magh, has already withdrawn from that area. Balen’s birthplace, Ekdara village, is in this area.

In Mahottari constituency no. 3, which has about 110,000 voters, the Yadav community has the highest number of votes. In the 2079 election, JSP Nepal candidate Hari Narayan Yadav had got the second largest number of votes there. Yadav is also an aspirant from the same area in the upcoming election. In Mahottari constituency no. 3, which Balen is trying to choose, the votes of the Sah, Brahmin-Bhumihar, Mandal and Muslim communities are high.

Mahottari Region No. 3 includes wards 8-10 of Jaleshwor Municipality, Matihani Municipality, Manarashisawa Municipality, wards 1-5 and 7 of Pipara Rural Municipality, and wards 1-5 of Ekdara Rural Municipality, Balen's birthplace.

Placards and banners reading 'Ab ki bar, Balen Sarkar' have been displayed at various places in the districts of Madhesh Province. On Tuesday, hundreds of youths took out a rally in Bardibas, Mahottari carrying banners reading 'Ab ki bar, Balen Sarkar. Youth's trust-Balen'. After Balen was scheduled to arrive in Janakpur on Sunday, Magh 4, AI-generated photos and videos of him wearing dhoti-kurta, kurta-pyjama, gamchha and pag have been posted on social media in large numbers.