Nominations for the House of Representatives election to be held on Falgun 21 (B.S.) have been completed for all 165 direct seats. Election officials reported that over 3,400 candidates nationwide have submitted their nominations. Candidates include those contesting under political party symbols as well as independents, ranging from long-time parliamentarians to first-time aspirants.
The election has drawn attention because four former prime ministers, six former finance ministers, and one former state minister for finance are contesting direct seats. Despite their seniority and expertise, none of these former finance ministers managed to present two consecutive annual budgets during their terms. Frequent changes in political alliances and government formations meant that budget preparation and implementation were often handled by different finance ministers, disrupting continuity in economic planning.
A review of Nepal’s budget history since 2065 B.S. shows that Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada, a former National Assembly member, presented three consecutive budgets, while former Constituent Assembly member Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat and interim election government finance minister Shankar Prasad Koirala each presented two consecutive budgets. Excluding advance and supplementary budgets introduced through ordinances, no former finance minister contesting the current election has presented consecutive annual budgets as a House of Representatives member.
Among the candidates, Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, former prime minister and finance minister, has filed his nomination from Gorkha-2 under the Progressive Democratic Party. He presented the FY 2065/66 budget, comprising two budgets in Asar and Asoj, and has been active in politics since 2027 B.S., moving from underground politics to mainstream leadership. Barsaman Pun, a former finance minister, has filed from Rolpa-1 with the Nepal Communist Party. He previously presented the FY 2069/70 budget via ordinance and the FY 2081/82 annual budget, and has served in multiple ministerial roles including Peace and Reconstruction, Energy, and Finance.
Bishnu Prasad Paudel, running from Rupandehi-2 under CPN (UML), has presented three budgets, including the current FY 2082/83. A five-time finance minister, he has also served as defense minister, water resources minister, and youth and sports minister. Gyanendra Bahadur Karki of Nepali Congress has filed from Sunsari-4 and previously served as Energy, Law, and Communications Minister, winning direct elections from the same constituency in 2074 and 2079 B.S. Janardan Sharma, contesting from Rukum West under the Progressive Democratic Party, presented the FY 2079/80 budget and has served as Peace and Reconstruction, Energy, Home, and Finance Minister.
Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, Nepali Congress leader, has filed from Nuwakot-1. He presented the FY 2080/81 budget and previously served as General Secretary of Nepal Student Union, member of the National Planning Commission, Foreign Minister, and Energy Minister. Former state finance minister Udaya Shamsher Rana has filed from Lalitpur-1, having previously served as central president of Nepal Tarun Dal and Constituent Assembly member, and held the finance ministry portfolio in 2074 B.S.
Historically, most finance ministers have not been able to implement the budgets they presented. For instance, the FY 2074/75 budget was presented by Krishna Bahadur Mahara, FY 2075/76–2077/78 budgets by Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada, FY 2071/72–2072/73 budgets by Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, FY 2069/70–2070/71 budgets by Shankar Prasad Koirala, FY 2068/69 by Bharat Mohan Adhikari, FY 2067/68 by Surendra Pandey, and FY 2065/66 by Dr. Baburam Bhattarai. This reflects Nepal’s frequent political instability and repeated changes in government leadership.
This article was originally published on https://bajarkochirfar.com. Translated with the help of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
