Dr. Baburam Bhattarai Regrets Vacating Gorkha Constituency for Prachanda

Former Prime Minister and Chairman of the Nepal Samajwadi Party (NSP), Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, has voiced regret over his decision to vacate his Gorkha Constituency-2 seat in favor of Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, known as “Prachanda.” The move, which took place during the last general elections, is now viewed by Dr. Bhattarai as a “serious misstep.”

While visiting his hometown of Gorkha with his wife, Hisila Yami, Dr. Bhattarai reflected on the consequences of his decision, which enabled Prachanda to secure a victory through an alliance with the Nepali Congress. This victory, however, led to a fallout between the two leaders, leaving Dr. Bhattarai disenchanted with the alliance and Prachanda’s subsequent actions, including party splits and attracting key members from NSP.

Dr. Bhattarai, who once envisioned creating a united Socialist Front (Samajwadi Morcha), now finds himself preparing to contest the upcoming 2084 BS elections from Gorkha-2 as an independent candidate. He has also taken to social media to express his disappointment, acknowledging criticisms from constituents and party members who felt his earlier decision showed a lack of commitment to his political and Gandhian ideals.

Looking back on the political landscape, Dr. Bhattarai lamented the regression in Nepal’s political progress, criticizing the cycle of power struggles over substantive national advancement.