The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has fielded several young candidates in the upcoming House of Representatives election.
There are 32 candidates aged 40 or under representing the RPP, and they are currently busy with door-to-door election campaigning.
According to RPP spokesperson Mohan Shrestha, the party has filed nominations in 163 out of the 165 constituencies, with the majority of candidates being under the age of 50.
"There are 32 candidates under 40, and we are contesting in 163 of the 165 constituencies. We have not formed an alliance with anyone. In fact, 70 percent of our candidates are under 50," said Shrestha. "Our candidates are currently on the ground among the people."
In past elections, the RPP had formed alliances with either the CPN-UML or the Nepali Congress. However, he party has not entered into any electoral alliance in any constituency this time, said Shrestha.
"Our candidates in Rupandehi-2 and Manang withdrew their nominations; in all other constituencies, our candidates remain in the race and are busy campaigning," he said. "This time, the RPP will not form any alliance with anybody; it will fight alone and win."
Karvika Thapa, who filed her nomination in Rupandehi-2, withdrew her candidacy. Having filed candidacy on January 20, she withdrew her name on January 23 following reports that she held a US Green Card.
Kubir Singh Gurung, the RPP candidate from Manang, also withdrew his nomination on January 23 after losing a lottery draw against Nepali Congress candidate Tek Bahadur Gurung. Spokesperson Shrestha maintains that RPP candidates remain in the race in all other constituencies.
This time, the RPP appears to be prioritizing new faces for both proportional representation PR and first-past-the-post (FPTP) seats. The party has denied PR seats to individuals who have repeatedly received opportunities since 2008.
Shrestha said that the party is moving forward with high morale by fielding youth in the election.
"Our candidates are contesting the election with high spirits," he said. "This time, we will not only open our account, but also win in most constituencies."
Stating that the party’s agenda of monarchy and a Hindu state is becoming increasingly popular, Shrestha said that the RPP would convert this support into votes.
"This time, we will emerge as the leading force in both PR and FPTP categories across the 15 constituencies of the three districts in Kathmandu Valley. Our agenda, including monarchy and Hindu state, is gaining popularity, and we will transform that into votes," he said.
In the 2022 House of Representatives election, the RPP won a total of 14 seats through both FPTP and PR systems. The party aims to increase this number in the upcoming election.
"The RPP will emerge as a decisive force in the next Parliament, acting as a coordinating force between two extremist ideologies," Shrestha added.
While fielding youth under 40, the RPP has repeated some past candidates while others are new.
Spokesperson Gyanendra Shahi, the current candidate from Jumla, won the 2022 election representing the RPP. He is 34 years old.
Anisha Nepali from Salyan, previously a PR lawmaker, is contesting the direct election this time at age 32.
Rabi Kiran Hamal, 28, who was at the forefront during the Gen Z movement, is the party’s candidate from Surkhet-1.
Kamal Bam Rajwar, 31, central president of the party’s sister organization, National Democratic Student Organization, is contesting from Kailali-4.
RPP candidates aged 40 or under:
1. Morang-6: Sabin Niraula, 27
2. Saptari-2: Ajay Kumar Das, 27
3. Surkhet-1: Rabi Hamal Thakuri (Rabi Kiran Hamal), 28
4. Dhankuta-1: Bibhatsu Thapa, 30
5. Rukum East: Roshan Shah, 30
6. Nawalparasi West-1: Navanit Kumar Mishra, 30
7. Baglung-1: Kalyan Bikram Acharya, 30
8. Kailali-4: Kamal Bam Rajwar, 31
9. Pyuthan-1: Dhaneshwar Pandit, 32
10. Dang-1: Binaya BC, 32
11. Salyan-1: Anisha Nepali, 32
12. Kailali-5: Roshan Shahi, 32
13. Baglung-2: Anchal Shahi, 33
14. Jumla: Gyan Bahadur Shahi (Gyanendra Shahi), 34
15. Ilam-1: Jwala Nepal Dahal, 35
16. Parsa-2: Beena Jaiswal, 35
17. Lalitpur-1: Sajina Karki, 35
18. Sindhupalchowk-2: Gopi Krishna Chaulagain, 35
19. Tanahun-1: Ramdatta Joshi (Abhishek Joshi), 35
20. Gulmi-2: Janak Sen, 35
21. Kathmandu-6: Uddhav Raj Bhetwal, 36
22. Kaski-3: Arjun Prasad Khanal, 36
23. Bardia-2: Sushil Chaudhary, 36
24. Kailali-1: Lokendra Kunwar, 36
25. Solukhumbu: Rajendra Basnet, 37
26. Bhaktapur-2: Advocate Bikram Thapa, 37
27. Siraha-4: Shubhendra Kumar Sah, 38
28. Kathmandu-2: Kunti Devi Pokharel, 38
29. Achham-1: Lokendra Bahadur Shah, 39
30. Kathmandu-9: Dilip Kumar Karki, 40
31. Gorkha-1: Kedar Mani Khanal, 40
32. Myagdi: Dambar Bahadur Subedi, 40
