Former Prime Minister and senior leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has officially announced the withdrawal of his candidacy from Gorkha Constituency 2 for the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) elections.
Dr Bhattarai made the announcement during a live broadcast on social media this Friday, stating that his decision comes after extensive consultations with local youth, civil society leaders, and intellectuals in Gorkha.
During the live session, Dr Bhattarai explained that he chose to step back from the active race to focus on a broader "guardian" role within the political landscape.
"I have decided to withdraw my nomination today. Local youth and intellectuals suggested that instead of being limited to a specific party or just serving as a Member of Parliament, I should provide guidance to the parties from the outside and fulfill a parental role for the nation's politics," Bhattarai said.
Dr Bhattarai had initially filed his nomination representing Nepal Samajbadi Party. With his exit, the race for Gorkha-2 remains highly competitive among several key contenders including Prakash Chandra Dawadi (Nepali Congress), Milan Gurung, alias Chakre Milan (CPN-UML), Lekhnath Paudel (CPN) and Kabindra Burlakoti (Rastriya Swatantra Party).
Bhattarai’s withdrawal is expected to significantly shift the electoral dynamics in the constituency, as his support base now becomes a crucial factor for the remaining candidates.
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