UML Says No Threat to KP Oli’s Victory in Jhapa-5

CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel has claimed that there is no difficulty for party chair KP Sharma Oli to win the election from Jhapa constituency No. 5.

Speaking at an interaction with journalists in Kathmandu on Friday, Pokhrel said that despite social media hype created by senior Rastriya Swatantra Party leader Balendra Sah, Oli’s victory in Jhapa-5 is not at risk. He stated that voters in Jhapa-5 are politically aware and the party has concluded that they are unlikely to be swayed by populism.

Pokhrel also expressed confidence that voters in Dang would ensure his victory in order to establish the district’s role in national politics. He said that Jhapa-5 has historically played a leading role in democratic movements and that the electorate there understands political consequences well. While acknowledging that social media rumors may have had some impact, he maintained that the UML remains in a safe position in the constituency with no electoral risk.

Referring to Dang, Pokhrel noted that despite strong influence from major parties and past alliances, UML had previously lost the election there by a narrow margin of fewer than 200 votes. He said that with parties contesting independently this time, and with growing public discussion that Dang lost important opportunities after his previous defeat, voters are now inclined to ensure his victory to strengthen Dang’s presence in national politics.

Pokhrel further asserted that no one can stop UML from emerging as the leading political force in the election, adding that the party’s main electoral competition will be with the Nepali Congress.