“Should it be considered wrong if they say they want to learn and join politics?”: Chairman Oli

Jhapa, – CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has characterized the electoral contest with senior leader Balen Sah (Balen) and youth leader Ranjit Tamang, who are directly challenging him for the Member of House of Representatives seat in his home district, as the ‘rise of the family.’

Oli, who is a direct candidate for Jhapa-5, arrived in Jhapa from Kathmandu on Friday. When journalists at the airport asked about the competition with Balen, Oli said, “I welcome those who come to compete, it makes me happy. If the new generation—our brothers, nephews, sons, grandsons—says ‘I will learn, I will join politics,’ should that be considered wrong?”

His remark indicates he is taking the challenge emerging from within and outside his party in his own home district positively. Jhapa-5 has become a major ‘battleground’ for the upcoming House of Representatives election.

Having become a legislator and minister from Jhapa in the early days of his political life, Oli has this time centered his campaign on the ‘trust of the home district.’ He has called upon the voters here to make ‘Oli victorious from the start’ and presented himself as an ‘experienced bridge’ for the development of the constituency and a larger role in national politics.

The presence of such a triangular contest in a leader’s home district has certainly brought new excitement to local politics, but it has also created a challenge for Oli. Both Balen and Tamang have targeted Oli as the ‘established leadership,’ carrying the agenda of youth and change. Oli’s ‘welcome’ reaction shows confidence in the electoral field while also framing the competition with the new generation as an expansion of the ‘political family.’

The intensity of election rallies and campaigns in this constituency is expected to increase in the coming weeks. Analysts say the result of Jhapa-5 could also impact the country’s political equation.