Heavyweight Clash in Nawalparasi West-1: Who Will Win?

The electoral heat has intensified in Constituency No. 1 of West Nawalparasi as heavyweight candidates enter the field. With the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5, candidates have become active in voter meetings, door-to-door campaigns, and listening to local grievances.

Representing the Nepali Congress with the tree election symbol, billionaire businessman and former Member of Parliament Binod Chaudhary is competing once again. His main rival is the experienced leader and former minister Hridayesh Tripathi of the Janata Samajwadi Party, who has entered the fray with the umbrella election symbol.

Alongside long-time rivals Chaudhary and Tripathi, candidates from other parties are also posing a tough challenge. These include Ram Prasad Pandey, former Susta Rural Municipality Chairman and school operator, representing the CPN (UML) with the sun symbol; Sindhu Jalesa from the Nepali Communist Party with the star symbol; Bikram Khanal, a businessman and former Nepali Congress leader, representing the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) with the bell symbol; and construction businessman Dhundiraj Pokhrel from Rastriya Janamorcha with the glass symbol.

A fierce competition is expected among six political parties in Nawalparasi Susta West-1. Parties that fought previous elections in alliances are competing independently this time. In the last election, Binod Chaudhary defeated Hridayesh Tripathi by a margin of 7,191 votes. Chaudhary secured 29,519 votes, while Tripathi received 22,328. At that time, Chaudhary had the support of the CPN (Maoist Centre), and Tripathi was supported by the CPN (UML).

This time, all candidates are seeking votes on their own merit. Chaudhary is presenting a list of past development projects and committing to completing unfinished plans. Tripathi has made his long political experience and local issues his main agenda. RSP's Khanal is highlighting the need for new leadership, targeting the youth and dissatisfied voters, while UML's Pandey has put forward slogans of development and prosperity.

Similarly, Janamorcha candidate Pokhrel has introduced an agenda focusing on a firm fight against corruption, reviewing the provincial structure, and empowering local bodies. Claiming a consistent voice for clean politics, national interest, and the people, he has urged voters to vote for the glass symbol.

During door-to-door campaigns, voters are raising the same old issues. Farmers are drawing the candidates' attention to the timely supply of fertilizer and seeds, flooding problems, the settlement of landless squatters' issues, and youth self-employment. The question remains—who will ultimately emerge victorious in this heavyweight clash?