Damak — Former Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City and senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, Balendra Shah (Balen), has officially filed his candidacy for the House of Representatives election from Jhapa Constituency No. 5.
Balen reached the election office on Tuesday accompanied by hundreds of supporters. His supporters escorted him with slogans, banners, and tableaux, creating a high-energy political atmosphere in Damak. The large public turnout highlighted his growing popularity and the significance of his candidacy in the constituency.
According to election officials, Bheshraj Bhattarai has signed as the proposer of Balen’s candidacy, while Bhuminandan Baral is listed as the supporter. From the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), former student leader Ranjit Tamang has been nominated as the party’s candidate from Jhapa-5.
Balen’s entry into the race has made the electoral contest in Jhapa-5 more competitive. The constituency is expected to witness a high-profile contest, primarily between Balen and CPN-UML Chairman and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who has a long-standing political base in the area.
The Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has projected Balen as a future prime ministerial candidate, further elevating the political stakes in Jhapa-5. With multiple heavyweight contenders, Jhapa-5 is emerging as one of the most closely watched constituencies in the upcoming House of Representatives elections.
