UML Chairman Oli Urged to Support Numa Limbu in Morang-4

The Inclusive Socialist Party has met with top leadership of major political parties to request support in ensuring the victory of its candidates in the House of Representatives election. 

The party initiated this move with the objective of sending representatives from the gender and sexual minority community to Parliament through direct elections to firmly establish the issues of equality and inclusion in parliamentary politics.

The Inclusive Socialist Party, led by transgender activist Numa Limbu ‘Chanchala’, met with CPN (UML) Chairman and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Thursday to request his support. During the meeting, Party Chair Numa expressed that equality and inclusion must be implemented in practice within a democracy. 

She put forward a demand that all parties should withdraw their candidates to ensure the representation of the gender and sexual minority community from Morang-4. She stated that parties talking about democracy and inclusion must at least do this much.

According to the Inclusive Socialist Party, Chairman Oli responded by saying he would "see how help can be provided." The party has taken this as a positive sign. The Inclusive Socialist Party had previously issued a public appeal to major political parties including CPN (UML), Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Swatantra Party, Ujyaalo Nepal Party, Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party to support at least one of their candidates in the direct elections.

Six candidates from the party have filed nominations for the direct elections of the House of Representatives. These include party chair Numa Limbu from Morang-4, Devendra Bahadur Khatri (Madhu) from Rupandehi-2, Surendra Pandey from Kathmandu-1, Purna Chandra Poudel from Kathmandu-10, Pinky Rai from Okhaldhunga, and Binod Lama (Konika) from Kavrepalanchok-1.

During the meeting, Numa pointed out the risk of inclusion issues fading away politically without the support of major parties. "Sunil Babu Pant reached the first Constituent Assembly, but there has been no one since then. Currently, I am the chairperson of the Inclusive Socialist Party myself. Six of us are contesting in the direct elections," she told Chairman Oli. "To become a national party, one seat must be won, so it is necessary to ensure the victory of at least one among the six."

She informed him that the party has also fielded candidates under the proportional representation system and mentioned that previous attempts to meet him had not been successful. "You were in Damak recently. Damak is my area too. However, since candidates like you and Balen were contesting, I did not stand there; I am contesting from Morang-4," she said.

In response, Chairman Oli asked, "So, winning one seat is enough to become a national party, isn't it?" and inquired about Numa’s hometown. Numa informed him that she is a resident of Damak-8 and shared the fact that the gender and sexual minority community makes up 8 to 10 percent of the total population in Nepal.

The party claims that Chairman Oli signaled potential support during the meeting with Numa. Sources close to Oli stated that he is preparing to return to Kathmandu on Friday after filing his nomination in Jhapa. The Inclusive Socialist Party is preparing to meet Oli again in Kathmandu to submit a written proposal.