PANCHTHAR: The influential entry of new political parties has made upcoming election interesting to watch in Panchthar, which just one House of Representatives (HoR) constituency.

Candidates from 15 political parties are in the fray for March 5 election to the House of Representatives. The increasing influence of new political political parties among voters indicates that the competition will be multi-faceted.

Narendra Kumar Kerung of Nepali Congress, Aindra Sundar Nembang of CPN (UML), Harka Bahadur Nembang of Nepali Communist Party, Mahendra Bikram Thamsuhang of Rastriya Swatantra Party, Tej Kumar Kurumbang of Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Machindra Prasad Begha of Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal are fight for the lone HoR seat in the election.

Similarly, Prakash Kafle of the Progressive Democratic Party, Hastaraj Sherma of the Labour Culture Party, Laxuman Tamang of the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, Bijay Nembang of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Ram Kumar Tumrok of the Mongol National Organization, Bhanubhakta Fiyak of the Federal Democratic National Forum, Narendra Prasad Kurumbang of the Nepal Janmukti Party, Tek Bahadur Subba of the National Change Party and Ujyalo Nepal Party, and Mitra Lingden of the National Liberation Party Nepal (single election symbol) are in the election contest.

In the House of Representatives election held on Mangsir 4, 2079 BS, Basanta Kumar Nembang of the CPN (UML) had won in a thrilling contest in Panchthar. The difference in votes between Nembang and the then Congress alliance candidate Bhishma Raj Angdembe was only 46. While Nembang received 32,135 votes, Angdembe received 32,089 votes.

In the election, the UML became the first party in Panchthar even under the proportional representation (PR) system.

While the UML received 26,592 votes, the Congress received 19,044 votes, the then CPN (Maoist Center) received 12,169 votes, the then CPN (Unified Socialist) received 3,387 votes, the RPP received 2,442 votes, the National Swatantra Party received 1,948 votes, the JSP Nepal received 1,711 votes, and the Federal Democratic National Forum received 1,640 votes.

UML, which defeated the coalition candidate in 2079 BS, seems to be working hard to maintain its votes.

The Congress, which failed to make any candidate win both times, is intent on winning this time. The Congress is trying to convey the energy it received from the special general convention to the voters.

After the unification of the then Maoist Center and the Unified Socialist, the Nepali Communist Party has also established itself as a competitive force in Panchthar.

However, in Panchthar new political parties, particularly the Rastriya Swatantra Party, the Labor Culture Party, the Ujyalo Nepal Party, and the Rastriya Pariwartan Party are challenging the major contemporary parties. The three candidates of these parties are gradually influencing the voters of the main three parties.

Candidates of all parties, including the major parties, who are under pressure from the influence of the new party, are reaching out to the villages to meet voters. As the candidates are creating an election atmosphere by reaching out to wards, toles and settlements, voters are also starting to get excited about voting.

There are 143,408 voters in Panchthar. There are 76,078 male voters and 67,330 female voters.