As of Monday evening, the NCP has finalized 165 candidates, the UML 163, and the Congress 50 for the nominations to be held in 165 constituencies for the direct election to the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

In the Congress, Sher Bahadur Deuba has already announced that he will not contest the election, while the delay is due to the fact that he has to select candidates from his supporters and Shekhar Koirala's supporters. The remaining candidates will be finalized by Tuesday morning, according to the leaders. Similarly, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has selected candidates in 92 constituencies. The RPP has distributed tickets by mixing new and old faces. 

The UML has finalized candidates in all constituencies except Dang-1 and Kathmandu-4. This time, the Congress and the NCP have announced that they have distributed tickets by giving priority to new and young people. Many new faces who have not had an opportunity before have also been put forward in the UML. However, some leaders have expressed dissatisfaction saying that those with different views have been deprived of tickets.

As the nomination process will start simultaneously across the country according to the Election Commission's schedule, top leaders and candidates of political parties have reached their respective constituencies. UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has reached Jhapa. Senior leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Balendra Shah also reached Jhapa from Kathmandu on Sunday via Janakpur on Monday night to file his candidacy. 

NCP coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal has reached Rukum East to register his candidacy. Oli and Shah are nominating from the same constituency, Jhapa-5. Jhapa is considered a traditional strong base area of ​​the UML. Local leaders and cadres of the party are preparing to make Chairman Oli's nomination grand. Similarly, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which has been established as an alternative political force, is also preparing to make Shah's presence special. The upcoming election clash between Oli and Shah in Jhapa-5 has attracted the attention of the country. 

Former President Sher Bahadur Deuba, signed by Congress President Gagan Thapa, who came to power after a rebellion within the party, has announced that he will not contest the election. Deuba's Chief Secretary Bhanu Deuba informed on Monday night that Deuba will not be a candidate in the election.  "I hereby inform you that Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will not be a candidate in the House of Representatives elections," he said. 

The controversy has escalated further after former acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka filed a writ petition in the court on Sunday in protest against the Election Commission's granting legitimacy to the Central Working Committee elected from the special general convention. According to a leader from Deuba's side, leaders from President Thapa's side have put forward the condition that the writ filed in the court should be withdrawn in order to distribute tickets as agreed. The establishment-oriented leaders have demanded that tickets be distributed as agreed after everything is settled. 

Former acting president Khadka has announced that he will not contest the election on moral grounds, citing the reason for filing a case in the court. Former acting president Khadka has expressed dissatisfaction with other leaders for filing a case in protest against the granting of legitimacy to the Central Working Committee elected from the special general convention and on the other hand participating in the distribution of tickets. 

According to a leader, Khadka initially had the view that instead of going to court with a writ, the central working committee should merge and seek consensus on ticket distribution. “But Khadka has expressed dissatisfaction saying that some former office bearers had to go to court and on the other hand, the same leaders were also trying to find a share in the ticket,” the leader said. 

Leader duo Balkrishna Khand and Ramesh Lekhak from the Deuba side, leader Minendra Rijal from the Shekhar Koirala side, spokesperson Devraj Chalise and central member Madhu Acharya from the establishment side participated in the talks on Monday morning. Since formal share distribution would send a bad message, it was agreed between them to give priority to those who won the 2079 elections with a few exceptions, not to those involved in legal cases and controversial ones, and to set criteria for making candidates who have a good image at the public level, qualified and capable people.

Then, after discussions between the establishment side and the Shekhar Koirala group, the list along with the names of those who should get tickets was submitted to the establishment side. By Monday, Deuba and Koirala-affiliated leaders including Vijay Kumar Gachheddar, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Shekhar Koirala, Bimalendra Nidhi, Prakash Sharan Mahat, Ramesh Lekhak, NP Saud, Govinda Pokharel and others have received tickets. 

After the tickets had to be distributed by consensus, the tickets for some Himalayan and high-hilly districts that had been decided the previous day had to be changed. Some leaders from the Himalayan districts had taken only the tickets signed by the president without filling in their names.

‘Until the last minute, the empty tickets were brought to see who would be given what,’ said a Congress leader from the Himalayan district. Congress General Secretary Gururaj Ghimire said that all the candidates would be finalized by Tuesday morning after discussions throughout the night. According to him, the distribution has been made with priority given to the Himalayan districts, high-hilly and remote districts. The leadership of President Thapa, who was elected after the special general convention, has prioritized the youth and new people this time.

Dang-1 and Kathmandu-4 are yet to be decided in UML

Ishwor Pokharel, who contested for the presidency in the 11th general convention of UML, has received a ticket for Kathmandu-5. The central secretariat had 'held' his ticket on Saturday. He received the ticket only on Monday afternoon. 'The ticket arrived around Monday afternoon,' he said, 'I will start preparing for the election after nominating on Tuesday.'

Although Oli's competitor received the ticket, his party leader Surendra Pandey, Deputy General Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai, leaders Binda Pandey, Thakur Gaire, Gokul Baskota, Rachana Khadka, Arun Nepal, and Usha Kiran Timsena did not receive the ticket. Secretary Bhattarai had expressed a different opinion in the central secretariat meeting, saying that the ticket distribution was not fair and that there was favoritism in the tickets based on the fact that they competed in the general convention. 

Oli, who reached his home district of Jhapa for the first time after the Gen-G movement, told reporters on Monday, ‘Some leaders did not get tickets because their weight was not enough when they were put on the party’s scales. The party has distributed tickets after weighing them. When the party weighed them, the weight had to be enough.’ 

He claimed that there was no problem in the distribution of tickets for the election. ‘Some people may come in anarchy,’ he said, pointing to Deputy General Secretary Bhattarai. Pokharel, who is also a candidate for Kathmandu-5, said that there will be a discussion on the issue of many qualified leaders not getting tickets. ‘Many friends, including Surendra Pandey, have been deprived of tickets. This will be a topic of discussion in the coming days,’ he said.

There is dissatisfaction within the party that the UML is trying to prohibit those with different opinions from distributing tickets. Deputy General Secretary Bhattarai argues that the lack of clear criteria in ticket distribution is arbitrary. "I have also told the party chairman that after the election, we should conduct a detailed review of the criteria for candidate selection, fair decisions and the popularity of the candidates," he told Kantipur. "But at this time, we have no room for right or left, our only goal and symbol is the sun. Our entire focus will be on 'Mission Surya Icon' and 'Mission Falgun 21'. I appeal to all members, well-wishers and the public of (UML) - from tomorrow, our only mantra should be only Sun Icon, no right, no left."

After pressure, Binod Dhakal, who contested for the post of secretary at the general convention, was given a ticket from Morang-6 on Sunday. It was decided to field Gokarna Bista, who won the vice-presidential seat from the establishment party on Saturday, from Gulmi-2. Although the candidates for 140 constituencies were finalized at the secretariat on Saturday, Chairman Oli had taken the tickets of other constituencies into his own hands. Even then, the leaders say that he has not shown generosity in giving tickets to leaders who have different views.

Chairman Oli Jhapa-5 and General Secretary Shankar Pokharel have been nominated for Dang-2. As of Monday evening, UML has not finalized its candidates for Dang-1 and Kathmandu-4.

Bamdev's ticket withdrawn from NCP, Jhalanath out

Bamdev Gautam was given a ticket for Bardiya-1 in NCP, but it was withdrawn at the last minute. Till Monday morning, he had said that he was the candidate for Bardiya-1.

However, NCP coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal has given Gautam's ticket to Bishnu Prasad Tharu. Until Sunday, preparations were underway to give a ticket to leader Prakash Jwala from Salyan. On Monday morning, his ticket was given to former president of Akhil Krantikari Ramesh Malla. He had worked as Dahal's personal secretary for two years.

The NCP has fielded former UML vice-president Bhim Rawal as a candidate for Achham-1. UML had not given him a ticket in 2079 BS.

Leader Jhalanath Khanal had wanted to be a candidate from Baglung-2 this time. He was stopped and given a ticket to Gyannath Gaire in that area. Many leaders of the NCP did not dare to take the ticket this time. Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Haribol Gajurel, Leelamani Pokharel, Dinanath Sharma, Hitraj Pandey, Rekha Sharma did not want to be candidates. They did not claim the ticket saying that they would give priority to the youth. 

Even though the NCP was formed by 20 parties and groups, there was no dispute in the distribution of tickets. Leader Barshaman Pun said that this time around 50 percent of the youth have been selected. ‘We have selected the candidates by giving priority to the youth,’ he said, ‘60 percent of the candidates are new and young.’

Among the direct candidates, 100 people have been made candidates from the former Maoists, 45 from the Unified Socialists and 20 from other components.

NCP co-coordinator Madhav Kumar Nepal has been nominated from Rautahat-1. Coordinator Dahal has reached Rukum East looking for a safe area. Nepal’s is an old area.

RSP President Lamichhane from Chitwan-2

RSP President Ravi Lamichhane has become a candidate from the previous constituency Chitwan-2. He was elected from the same constituency in the 2079 House of Representatives election and the Baisakh 2080 by-election. 

Senior leader Balendra Shah, who was declared the future prime ministerial candidate from RSP, is contesting against former Prime Minister and UML Chairman Oli in Jhapa-5. He was elected mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City in the 2079 local level elections. He resigned from the post of mayor and is contesting the parliamentary elections. 

RSP Vice President DP Aryal is going to contest from Kathmandu-9. Aryal, who was elected as an MP through proportional representation in 2079, has become a direct candidate this time. Another Vice President Swarnim Wagle has become a candidate from his home district Tanahun-1. He was elected from Tanahun-1 in the Baisakh 2080 by-election. 

General Secretary Kavindra Burlakoti has become a candidate from Gorkha-2. In this constituency, Burlakoti is also competing with former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai from Pralopa, Lekhnath Neupane from NCP, and Milan (Chakre) Gurung from UML. Joint General Secretary Bipin Acharya has become a candidate from Dang-2. Secretariat member Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has become a candidate from Kathmandu-8. He had also become an MP from this constituency in 2079 BS. Another secretariat member Deepak Bohara has become a candidate from Kanchanpur-2. 

RSP Secretariat member Sobita Gautam has reached Chitwan-3. She became an MP from Kathmandu-2 in the 2079 BS elections. RSP has fielded Ranju Darshana as a candidate in Kathmandu-1. She was on the proportional list after the unity between Bibeksheel Sajha and RSP. She withdrew her name from proportional and became a direct candidate.

Sunil KC, who left the RPP only on Monday, has become a candidate from Kathmandu-2 from the RPP. He was elected as an MP from Bagmati Province Assembly Kathmandu-2 (1) from the RPP in 2079 BS. He was close to Balendra Shah. RPP leaders have said that Shah pushed him to become a candidate. Former Kathmandu City Police Chief Rajunath Pandey has become a candidate in Kathmandu-3. He has also become a candidate with Balendra Shah's support. Shishir Khanal is a candidate in Kathmandu-6 and Ganesh Parajuli is a candidate in 7. Khanal and Parajuli were MPs from these constituencies in the 2079 BS elections. Pradeep Bista is a candidate from the RPP in Kathmandu-10. 

Shambhu Suskera Dhakal, Secretary of the RPP Jhapa District Committee, has been made a candidate in Jhapa-4, while District President Prakash Pathak is a candidate in Jhapa-3. Outgoing Deputy Speaker Indira Rana has become a candidate for the RPP in Jhapa-2. यो निर्वाचन क्षेत्रमा एमालेले निवर्तमान सभामुख देवराज घिमिरेलाई उम्मेदवार बनाएको छ । झापा–१ मा निशा डाँगी उम्मेदवार बनेकी छन् । उनी रास्वपाको सचेतक रहिसकेकी छन् । राना र डाँगीबीच झापा–२ लाई लिएर विवाद थियो । दुवै जनाले झापा–२ मा उम्मेदवार बन्न चाहेका थिए । विवाद लम्बिएपछि रास्वपाको उम्मेदवार चयन समितिले सभापति रवि लामिछानेलाई जिम्मा लगाएका थिए । 

पर्वतबाट केशव भुर्तेललाई उम्मेदवार बनाइएको छ । गत ४ पुसमा भुर्तेल रास्वपामा प्रवेश गरेका थिए । हालै पार्टी प्रवेश गरेकालाई उम्मेदवार बनाएर जिल्लामा पार्टी स्थापना गर्ने नेता र कार्यकर्तालाई पाखा लगाइएको भन्दै रास्वपामा असन्तुष्टि देखिएको छ । पर्वतमा रास्वपा स्थापना हुँदाका सभापति नवराज भण्डारीले सामाजिक सञ्जालमा भनेका छन्,’ साथीहरूको अथक परिश्रमले पार्टीलाई यहाँसम्म ल्याइयो तर अहिले उम्मेदवार छनोट गर्दा जिल्लामा कुनै छलफल नै नगरी केन्द्रबाट नाम पठाउनु दुःखद छ । गरिब र झुपडीबाट पनि स्वच्छ छवि भएका युवा सांसद बन्न सक्छन् भन्ने मेरो बुझाइ थियो । तर, पार्टीले अहिले गरेको निर्णयले शुभचिन्तकहरूलाई निराश बनाएको छ ।’ भण्डारीले स्वतन्त्र उम्मेदवार बन्ने घोषणा गरेका छन् । उनी कांग्रेसको भूतपूर्व सैनिक संघबाट रास्वपा प्रवेश गरेका नेता हुन् । 

रास्वपाले धादिङ–१ मा अभियन्ता आशिका तामाङलाई उम्मेदवार बनाएको छ । भक्तपुर–२ मा राजीव खत्री, ललितपुर–३ मा डा. तोसिमा कार्की उम्मेदवार भएका छन् । रास्वपाबाट ललितपुर–२ मा जगदीश खरेल उम्मेदवार बन्न चाहेका छन् । खरेलले रास्वपाबाट टिकट निश्चित भएपछि सोमबार मन्त्रीबाट राजीनामा दिएका छन् । तर ललितपुर–२ बाट रास्वपाका बुद्ध महर्जनले पनि आकांक्षा राखेका छन् । 

तेह्रथुममा ऋतुराज लिम्बूले टिकट पाएपछि रास्वपा जिल्ला र पालिका समितिले सामूहिक राजीनामा दिएका छन् । मधेश प्रदेशमा पनि उम्मेदवार चयनमा रास्वपाभित्र विवाद छ । उम्मेदवार चयनमा चलखेल भएको भन्दै सभापति लामिछाने र वरिष्ठ नेता शाह बसेको होटल बाहिर कार्यकर्ता र नेताहरूले विरोध गरेका थिए । विवाद भएका केही ठाउँका स्थानीय नेताले बागी उम्मेदवारीको घोषणा सामाजिक सञ्जालबाट गरिरहेका छन् । 

 रास्वपाले उम्मेदवार सिफारिस गर्न उपसभापति स्वर्णिम वाग्लेको संयोजकत्वमा नेताहरू शिशिर खनाल, सोबिता गौतम र बोधनारायण श्रेष्ठ रहेको समिति गठन गरेको थियो । बालेन्द्र शाह, विवेकशील साझा पार्टीका साथै उज्यालो नेपाल र थारू समुदायका नेता प्रवेश गरेपछि समितिलाई उम्मेदवार चयन गर्न कठिन भएको वाग्लेले बताएका छन् ।

उम्मेदवार चयन गर्न आइतबार बसेको केन्द्रीय समिति बैठकमा वाग्लेले धेरै आकांक्षीमध्येबाट सिफारिस गरिएको र आकांक्षीलाई कमभन्दा कम अन्याय हुने गरी निर्णय लिइएको बताएका थिए । २०७९ को चुनावमा रास्वपाका सांसदले जहाँ जितेका थिए, यस पटक सोही निर्वाचन क्षेत्रमा उम्मेदवार बनाउने कार्यविधि बनाइएको थियो ।

सप्तरी–२ मा सीके, ३ मा उपेन्द्र उम्मेदवार

मधेश प्रदेशबाट जसपा नेपाल अध्यक्ष उपेन्द्र यादव सप्तरी–३ बाट उम्मेदवार बन्ने भएका छन् । जसपा नेपालले माओवादीबाट हालै प्रवेश गरेका उमेश यादवलाई सप्तरी–२ मा उम्मेदवार बनाउने भएको छ । जनमत पार्टी अध्यक्ष सीके राउत पनि सप्तरी–२ बाट उम्मेदवार बन्ने भएका छन् । राउतले गत निर्वाचनमा सोही क्षेत्रबाट जसपाका अध्यक्ष यादवलाई पराजित गरेका थिए । 

सप्तरी–२ मा मधेशका पूर्वमुख्यमन्त्री सतीशकुमार सिंह पनि उम्मेदवार हुनेछन् । उनी जनमतबाट मुख्यमन्त्री भएका थिए । सिंहले सोमबार नै प्रदेशसभा सदस्यबाट राजीनामा दिएका छन् । एमालेबाट टिकट पाए पनि सिंह आफ्नै दल स्वाभिमान पार्टीबाट उम्मेदवार बनेका हुन् । मुख्यमन्त्रीबाट जनमतले जबर्जस्ती हटाएको आक्रोशमा सिंहले अध्यक्ष राउतविरुद्ध उनकै क्षेत्रमा प्रतिस्पर्धा गर्न लागेका हुन् । जसपा नेपालका नेता शरतसिंह भण्डारी भने महोत्तरी–२ बाट निर्वाचन लड्ने भएका छन् । मधेशवादी दलहरूले उम्मेदवारको सूची टुंगो लगाइसकेका छैनन् ।

राप्रपामा कतै नयाँ कतै पुराना

राप्रपाले केही पुराना अनुहारलाई दोहोर्‍याएको छ भने केही क्षेत्रमा नयाँ उम्मेदवारलाई पनि स्थान दिएको छ । २०७९ मा चुनाव जितेका नेताहरू अध्यक्ष लिङ्देन झापा–३, विक्रम पाण्डे चितवन–३, ध्रुवबहादुर प्रधान नवलपरासी–२, दीपक सिंह मकवानपुर–१ र ज्ञानेन्द्र शाही जुम्लाबाटै उम्मेदवार भएका छन् । गत चुनावमा बाँके–२ बाट निर्वाचित भएका राप्रपा महामन्त्री धवलशमशेर राणाले यस पटक उम्मेदवारी नदिने भएपछि त्यहा नयाँ उम्मेदवारलाई मौका दिइने राप्रपा प्रवक्ता मोहन श्रेष्ठले जानकारी दिए ।

रवीन्द्र मिश्रलाई काठमाडौं–१ बाट पुनः उम्मेदवार बनाइएको छ । गत निर्वाचनमा मिश्र कांग्रेसका प्रकाशमान सिंहसँग पराजित भएका थिए । काठमाडौं–२ मा यस पटक पनि कुन्ती पोखरेललाई उम्मेदवार बनाइएको छ । मकवानपुरबाट उम्मेदवार हुँदै आएका कमल थापा काठमाडौं सरेका छन् । उनी काठमाडौं–५ बाट उम्मेदवार भएका छन् । थापालाई उम्मेदवार बनाइएकामा स्थानीय नेता/कार्यकर्ताले विरोध गरेका थिए । 

त्यस्तै, काठमाडौं–३ मा सुन्दरसिंह बोहरा, ४ मा सुरेन्द्र भण्डारी, ६ मा उद्धव भेटुवाल, ७ मा लालकुमार लामा, ८ मा नवीन शाही, ९ मा दिलीप कार्की र १० मा बलराम थापालाई उम्मेदवार बनाइएको छ । स्वागत नेपालले झापा–२ बाट टिकट पाएका छन् । प्रवक्ता श्रेष्ठले उम्मेदवार छनोट गर्दा महिला, दलित, भूगोल, जनसंख्या र सबै वर्गको प्रतिनिधित्व गराउने कोसिस गरिएको दाबी गरे ।