Damak, Feb 3: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) senior leader Balen Shah, who has registered his candidacy for the House of Representatives election from Jhapa constituency No. 5, has arrived in Jhapa last evening.
This marks Shah’s second visit to Jhapa as he seeks to consolidate his position in the closely watched constituency, where his main rival is CPN-UML Chairman and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
However, the party has not yet officially disclosed Shah’s detailed activities in Jhapa or Morang.
After filing his nomination on January 20, Shah had toured several districts including Ilam, Panchthar, Taplejung, Dhankuta, Terhathum and Sankhuwasabha of eastern Nepal, where he received a warm reception from local party workers. He returned to Kathmandu on the evening of January 24.
Since being declared the RSP’s prime ministerial candidate, Shah has intensified his nationwide campaign. On January 26, he travelled via Nepalgunj to Bardiya, Kanchanpur, Dadeldhura, Achham and Surkhet, among more than a dozen districts, in an effort to mobilise voter support. He was welcomed by local residents and party cadres in these areas as well.
Following his far-western tour, Shah returned to Kathmandu and arrived in Jhapa on Monday evening on a Yeti Airlines flight.
Meanwhile, Shah’s wife, Sabina Gautam, is also actively campaigning in Jhapa constituency No. 5. However, a complaint has reportedly been filed alleging that police personnel assigned to her security were also participating in election campaigning.
Tensions between Balen Shah and KP Sharma Oli have escalated further, with sharp exchanges related to the Gen Z movement, subsequent vandalism and arson incidents, and the formation of a new government under Sushila Karki. Although UML Chair Oli has stated that he was ready for a public debate, Shah rejected the proposal, branding Oli a “terrorist” and saying he would not take part in such a discussion.
Shah’s remarks have continued to spark debate on social media platforms. #nepal #balen #kpoli
