Party chiefs and senior leaders are running in Jhapa-5, Chitwan-2 and Rukum East. The women candidates who have come up against them have intensified their campaign. Jhapa-5 UML President KP Sharma Oli and senior leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Balendra Shah have come up. Congress' Mandhara Chimoriya, who has come up against both these leaders, is busy door-to-door canvassing.

She said that contesting the election with a highly publicized competitor is an opportunity for ideological and policy debate. Chimoria is a leader who has been involved in social activities at the local level. She has been going door-to-door, prioritizing issues of development, employment, agriculture and good governance.

‘It has been 35 years since I have been active in politics from the Congress. Before that, I have experience of working in a government job.  I have spent all these years in social service,’ Chimoria said, ‘I have worked for women, children, senior citizens, and the underprivileged who are victims of violence. Social work is the basis of my victory.’

She said that Shah is a new face for the constituency. ‘When a new person comes, the crowd is large, so it is natural for him to create an atmosphere, it should not be considered strange,’ she said, ‘But the question of who will be there in the happiness and sorrow of the people here is important.’ She says that just by opposing Oli and Balendra, one will not be a competitor. ‘I do not oppose anyone, I am not weak either. Voters will definitely evaluate the person who has worked for this place, not by looking at a famous name.'

Born in 2019, Chimoriya received her primary education in Phungling, Taplejung. She passed her SLC in 2037 from the then Girls' Secondary School in Dharan. Although she started her studies at the campus level, she has experience working in the civil service through the Public Service Commission since 2038. She has been active in the Nepali Congress since 2048. She is known in the district as a leader who has held responsibilities in party leadership from ward to district level. Apart from politics, Chimoriya is equally active in the social sector.

Chitwan-2: Kharel against Lamichhane

Chitwan-2 is in the news due to the candidacy of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) President Ravi Lamichhane. This time, the Congress has fielded experienced social leader Meena Kharel as its candidate against Lamichhane. Lamichhane won the 2079 House of Representatives election and the 2080 by-election by a landslide.

Kharel has been active in the social sector in Chitwan for a long time. She has been working in the areas of women's and children's rights, women's economic empowerment, and social services. For that, she is known as a popular and trustworthy personality in the local community. Lamichhane is trying to attract emotional and change-oriented votes. Meena is trying to secure stability and the traditional votes of the Congress. Kharel said that she felt comfortable competing with Lamichhane in the election.

'I have no difficulty competing with Ravi Lamichhaneji,' said Kharel, 'Voters are competing to see how to win Meena. That is why I don't think there is a competition between candidates.' Chitwan-2 has 51 percent female voters. Kharel said that she has been associated with this area for 35 years. ‘I know this geography, the problems here and the aspirations of the people very well,’ she said, ‘Those in whose service I spent a long time of my life are now joining my campaign.’

She claims that the Congress voters were discouraged due to the alliance in the previous election and are now excited. ‘During the alliance, the votes were divided because they were not allowed to vote on their own party’s election symbol,’ she said, ‘This time, the enthusiasm among the voters has been seen when the Congress contested the election with its own symbol and its own candidate.’ She claimed that the basis for her victory was strong as her social background is also Chitwan. ‘I have worked in the field of rescue, protection and justice for more than 1200 helpless people, women, adolescents and children,’ Kharel said, ‘The trust in that service is now starting to be seen in the form of votes.’

Kusumdevi against Pushpa Kamal in Rukum East

Nepali Communist Party (NCP) coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal has returned to his ‘base area’. Former Prime Minister Dahal is being challenged by Nepali Congress Mahasamiti member Kusumdevi Thapa. Rukum East is the birthplace of the then Maoist armed war. Kusumdevi says that it is natural for a Congress candidate to face a challenge in the traditional base area of ​​the Maoists.

However, she does not consider herself a politically weak candidate. Thapa, a former MP (National Assembly), has launched her election campaign focusing on development, service delivery and the role of a people's representative.

She said that she does not consider Dahal as a 'heavyweight' because he is a former Prime Minister and considering his past. 'My party and I do not consider Dahal a heavyweight,' she said. 'Name, history or position do not make a difference in the election results. The main basis is who has done what for the people.'

She said that she raised her voice in Parliament regarding the news that Rukum district was lost. ‘Dahal was the Prime Minister when Rukum East sought its existence,’ she said, ‘he didn’t care at that time.’ Rukum East is home to more than 80 percent Magar community. She said that the election competition was not uncomfortable since she also represents the same community. She has also raised questions about Dahal’s election style.