Rukum East battleground: Prachanda fights for survival in a fracturing stronghold
Summary
In Rukum East, a historically Maoist stronghold, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' faces a tough challenge from Sandeep Pun after the Maoist Center split and new political alliances reshaped electoral dynamics.
Key Points
- Rukum East has historically been a Maoist stronghold, but the Maoist Center split has fragmented votes ahead of the upcoming election.
- Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ faces Sandeep Pun, son of Maoist martyrs, backed by the Progressive Democratic Party and CPN-UML.
- Prachanda’s electoral dominance has declined over the years, forcing strategic constituency changes and reliance on alliances.
- Sandeep Pun challenges Prachanda’s leadership by questioning the revolution’s legacy and highlights grassroots dissatisfaction with established Maoist leadership.
