Major Shifts in Local By-Elections as Congress Loses Ground, UML and Maoist Center Gain Seats

In the ongoing by-election for 44 vacant positions in local levels, results from 6 areas are still pending. Nepali Congress has secured 18 seats, with wins in Koshi, Madhesh, Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpashchim provinces. However, even if Congress wins all remaining seats, their total will reach just 24, a loss from the 27 seats they won in the 2079 elections.

Meanwhile, the CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Center have gained additional seats. So far, UML has won 8 seats and the Maoist Center has won 7. Notable victories include the Maoist Center’s win in Morang’s Gramthan Rural Municipality, where Namonarayen Majhi triumphed over Congress’s Balram Sardar Tharu. In Jajarkot’s Nalagad, the Maoist Center secured the deputy mayor’s seat, and in Dailekh’s Mahabu, UML claimed the chairmanship.

The by-elections have also seen significant shifts in previously contested areas. UML gained a seat in Bajura’s Swamikartik Khapar and JSP Nepal added two new positions. The Unified Socialist Party and the Nepal Labour and Peasant Party also secured one seat each.

With these changes, the political landscape of the local levels continues to evolve, with UML and the Maoist Center gaining ground at the expense of Congress.