Gagan Thapa takes on Madhesh gamble in Sarlahi-4 as old rivalries resurface
Summary
Nepali Congress president Gagan Thapa is contesting the Sarlahi-4 constituency, a Madhesh stronghold, facing tough competition from Rastriya Swatantra Party candidate Amresh Kumar Singh and other rivals amid shifting party dynamics and local rivalries.
Key Points
- Gagan Thapa, now Nepali Congress president, has decided to contest the Sarlahi-4 seat, a region with significant Madheshi population where no hill-origin candidate has previously been a major contender.
- Thapa faces Amresh Kumar Singh, a three-time winner from Sarlahi-4 who ran as an independent in 2022 and now represents the Rastriya Swatantra Party.
- Internal rivalries and shifting alliances within the Nepali Congress, including figures like Birendra Singh and Surendra Singh, have influenced the political dynamics in Sarlahi-4.
- The election in Sarlahi-4 is marked by caste-based voting patterns and historical political violence, though recent elections have seen increased voter awareness and reduced violence.
