The UML top leadership has suffered defeat in the House of Representatives elections. In the ongoing vote counting, Chairman KP Sharma Oli is facing defeat.

He is the candidate for Jhapa-5 and is behind Balendra Shah of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Shah got 55,934 votes while Oli has only 15,409 votes.

Vice-Chairman Bishnu Poudel, Gokarna Bista, General Secretary Shankar Pokharel, Secretary Mahesh Basnet, Bhanubhakta Dhakal, Rajan Bhattarai have already suffered defeat. Another Vice-Chairman Prithvisubba Gurung is also not likely to win.

Two Deputy General Secretaries Raghubir Mahaseth are far behind in the competition. So far, UML has won Mohammad Ishtiaq Rai from Banke-2 and Ain Bahadur Mahar from Bajhang. UML has so far taken the lead in only 9 seats.

This defeat is not only unexpected for UML, which became the second party with 78 seats and the first in proportional votes in the 2079 elections, but also raises serious questions about the party's leadership, policies and programs.

UML is preparing to review the entire election results after they are announced. UML Vice President and former Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has expressed his commitment to take the initiative to restructure UML's policies, leadership, organization and working style in line with public expectations. After being defeated in Rupandehi-2, he expressed his commitment to change UML's policies, leadership and working style through social media. He has also called on the party ranks not to be distracted by the election results.

‘I express my commitment to take the initiative to seriously review the mistakes and shortcomings made on our part in the past, to transform ourselves according to the expectations of the people, and to reorganize the policies, leadership, organization, and working style of the UML in accordance with the expectations of the people, and to continue to dedicate myself to the service of the people and the nation without wavering,’ he said. ‘The beauty of democracy is the people’s opinion, and I humbly and happily accept the decision of the respected voters of Rupandehi-2.’

The UML, which emerged as a force after the 2046 movement, came second in 2048 (69 out of 205), first in 2051 (88 out of 205), second in 2056 (71 out of 205), third in 2064 with 601 seats (33 direct and 70 proportional, 103), second in 2070 with 601 (91 direct and 84 proportional, 175), and in the first general election held after the promulgation of the constitution in 2074 (121 seats, including 80 direct and 41 proportional).

The CPN, formed after the unity between the UML and the Maoists (36 direct and 17 proportional), reached 174 seats in the House of Representatives. In 2079, it became the second party with 78 seats.

Defeat by a large margin

In Rupandehi-2, UML Vice President Bishnu Poudel was defeated by Sulabh Kharel of the National Independent Party. Kharel got 56,550 votes, while Poudel was limited to 12,861 votes. He had won from this constituency in the last election.

Similarly, in Bhaktapur-2, UML Secretary Mahesh Basnet was defeated. Rajiv Khatri of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party got 34,722 votes and Basnet got 8,351 votes.

In Kathmandu-5, UML Ishwor Pokharel was defeated by Sasmit Pokharel of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party by a margin of 26,36 votes.

In Gulmi-2, party Vice President Gokarna Raj Bista was defeated by Govinda Panthi of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party. Panthi got 16,967 votes while Bista got 16,466 votes. There was a close contest between Bista and Panthi. Panthi defeated Bista by a margin of 561 votes.

Secretary Bhanubhakta Dhakal also suffered defeat from Tehrathum. He was defeated by Santosh Subba of the Nepali Congress. Subba got 11,561 votes while Dhakal got 10,682 votes.

Another secretary, Rajan Bhattarai, came in third place in Kathmandu-4. Pukar Bam of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) won by getting 29,142 votes while Sachin Timalsena of the Nepali Congress got 8,824 votes. Bhattarai got only 5,733 votes.