CPN (UML) has officially decided to field Suhang Nembang, the son of late UML Vice Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang.
A UML secretariat meeting held at the central party office in Chyasal, Lalitpur on Sunday took a decision to this effect.
This constituency was lying vacant after UML Member of Parliament (MP) Subas Nembang passed away on September 12. He had been elected as an MP to the House of Representatives (HoR) from this constituency in the federal elections held on November 20, 2022.
Suhang is the youngest son of late leader Subas and legal practitioner by profession. He also operates a football club and is active in social works in Ilam.
The by-elections is scheduled to be held on April 27.
In the previous elections, the electoral alliance comprising Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Center) and CPN (Unified Socialist) had fielded NC’s Dambar Bahadur Khadka against Subas. Even though Nembang's opponent had the backing of the electoral alliance, he managed to clinch the win with a slim difference of 114 votes.
Nepali Congress and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) are also fielding their candidates in this constituency. However, they have not yet finalized their candidates. On the other hand, Dakendra Singh Thegim is contesting the by-elections representing the pro-identity groups.
The identity has been a burning issue in Province 1 after it was named Koshi, resulting in a series of demonstrations leaving one protestor killed and several others injured. Padam Limbu alias Lajehang, who had sustained head injuries in a clash with the police during a protest held in Biratnagar on March 19, died in the course of treatment. Following pressures from the agitating groups, the government was forced to declare him a martyr.
Organizing a press meet in Kathmandu recently, the Province 1 Renaming Joint Struggle Committee decided to field Thegim as an election candidate in Ilam 2 by-polls. There have been speculations that Thegim’s candidacy is likely to sway voters in Ilam-2, a stronghold of pro-identity groups.
Another candidate contesting the by-elections is Milan Limbu. Limbu has announced to field himself as an indepenent candidate.
