Sarlahi: As the House of Representatives election scheduled for Falgun 21 draws closer, Sarlahi Constituency No. 4 has emerged as a major center of political debate. The entry of influential leaders from major political parties has made this constituency one of the most closely watched contests in the country.
Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa is contesting from Sarlahi-4 this time. His candidacy has gained particular significance after he assumed party leadership by removing Sher Bahadur Deuba through a special general convention. Thapa’s decision to change his long-held constituency from Kathmandu-4, where he had won successive elections since 2013 (2070 BS), to Sarlahi-4 in Madhesh Province has further intensified political discussions.
Thapa began his parliamentary career as a proportional representation member elected through the 2008 (2064 BS) Constituent Assembly election. For him, the upcoming election has become a matter of political prestige, especially as the Nepali Congress is projecting him as a future prime ministerial candidate.
The Election Commission had granted legal recognition to the decisions of the special general convention held from Poush 27 to 30. Although the Deuba faction challenged the decision at the Supreme Court, the court refused to issue an interim order. On Tuesday, a bench led by Justice Sunil Kumar Pokharel dismissed the claims filed by the Deuba group, further strengthening Thapa’s position within the party.
The electoral race in Sarlahi-4 is highly competitive. Former Nepali Congress leader Dr. Amresh Kumar Singh is contesting the election, while Amanish Kumar Yadav from CPN-UML and Rajnish Rai Yadav from the CPN are also in the fray. In total, 39 candidates have registered their nominations in the constituency, including 26 independent candidates.
In the 2022 (2079 BS) election, Dr. Singh had won as an independent candidate with 20,017 votes. At that time, Nepali Congress candidate Nagendra Kumar secured 18,253 votes, while independent candidate Madhumala Kumari Yadav received 14,622 votes. Singh had contested as an independent after being denied a party ticket by the Nepali Congress.
Sarlahi-4 comprises wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 13, 14, and 15 of Barhathwa Municipality; wards 1, 2, and 3 of Basbariya Rural Municipality; Dhankaul and Ramnagar rural municipalities; Balara and Godaita municipalities; and wards 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Bishnu Rural Municipality.
Given the presence of powerful candidates, past competitive results, and its broader national political implications, the Sarlahi-4 election is expected to be highly competitive, decisive, and closely followed across the country.
