Industrialists and Businessmen File Nominations for Upcoming Election

Kathmandu. For the upcoming House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5, a significant number of industrialists and businessmen have filed their candidacies under the first-past-the-post system. Those filing nominations range from stock traders and cooperative operators to major industrialists.

More than two dozen industrialists and businessmen have registered their candidacies for the upcoming election. Among them is Nepal's first billionaire, Binod Chaudhary, who filed his nomination on Tuesday from Nawalparasi West constituency No. 1 representing the Nepali Congress. This is Chaudhary's second electoral contest.

Businessmen state that the main reason for their growing attraction to politics is the desire to reach the policy-making level. They argue that their presence is necessary to strongly raise issues such as industry-friendly laws, tax system reforms, and investment security in Parliament. 

They believe that the problems of industry and business will not be resolved until they reach the place where policies are made. Chunn Prasad Sharma Paudel, Chairman of Yashoda Foods, which produces Current noodles, has also filed his candidacy from Rupandehi-2 representing the Nepali Congress. This is his first electoral contest.

Asimman Singh Basnyat, Managing Director of Pathao, has filed an independent candidacy from Kathmandu-1. He had previously announced that he would participate in the election as an independent. 

Similarly, Anil Kumar Rungta, who received a ticket from the Nepali Congress for Parsa-4, is also an established industrialist. From Kaski-1, Tilak Ranabhat, operator of Noor Overseas Manpower, has entered the electoral field from the Nepali Congress.

Bharat Raj Dhakal, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Muktinath Bikas Bank, has filed his candidacy from Syangja-1 representing the Congress.

Another person from a business background contesting the House of Representatives election is medical entrepreneur Sunil Kumar Sharma. Sharma, the operator of Kathmandu Medical College and Nobel Medical College, who has been fielded by the Congress in Morang-3, is also investing in hydropower projects. He was elected from Morang-3 in the previous election.

Rishi Raj Dhamala, known as a media entrepreneur, has entered the electoral field from Rautahat-1. Prabhu Sah's Aam Janata Party has fielded him as a candidate. 

DP Aryal, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, has become a candidate from Kathmandu-9. He has investments in agriculture farms, travel services, cooperatives, brick industries, remittance companies, education consultancies, security services, trekking services, and hotels. He became a Member of Parliament through the proportional representation system in the previous election.

Young stock trader Hari Dhakal has also registered his candidacy for the second time from Chitwan-1. Dhakal, a leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), was previously elected from the same constituency. 

Mohan Acharya, the Congress candidate in Rasuwa; Ramesh Prasad Dhamala, who received a ticket from Dhading-2; Birendra Prasad Kanodiya, who filed a nomination from the UML in Kapilvastu-3; and LP Sawa Limbu, the candidate from Jhapa-4, are also individuals associated with various businesses and enterprises.