Bhaktapur-1: testing the Workers’ and Peasants Party’s last bastion
Summary
The Nepal Workers’ and Peasants Party (NWPP) continues to hold its traditional stronghold in Bhaktapur-1 amid rising competition from national parties in the upcoming House of Representatives elections.
Key Points
- Bhaktapur-1 has been under uninterrupted NWPP control since 1991, with party leaders Narayan Man Bijukchhe and Prem Suwal winning successive elections.
- NWPP’s stronghold is concentrated mainly in Bhaktapur municipality, while its influence is weaker in Changunarayan municipality, which shows fragmented political allegiance.
- Opposition parties including Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Rastriya Swatantra Party, and others are intensifying efforts to challenge NWPP’s dominance in the upcoming elections.
- NWPP’s governance in Bhaktapur is recognized for cleanliness, orderliness, and affordable social services, fueling its local voter loyalty despite criticism of political isolation and limited constituency-wide development.
