Jhapa-5 Election Overview: Candidate Profiles and Comparative Analysis

Constituency Context: Jhapa-5, Jhapa District

Jhapa-5 is one of the key electoral constituencies in eastern Nepal, drawing national attention due to the presence of high-profile political figures. In the upcoming general election, the constituency has 24 total candidates, with the primary public focus on the contest between Khadga Prasad (K.P.) Sharma Oli and Balendra Shah.

Disclaimer: This content is strictly for voter information and civic education. It does not promote or oppose any candidate or political party.

Candidate Profiles

Candidate 1: Khadga Prasad (K.P.) Sharma Oli

Basic Information

• Full Name: Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli
  
• Age: 73 (Born 22 February 1952)
  
• Birthplace: Iwa, Terathum, Koshi Province
  
• Party: Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) | नेकपा एमाले
  
• Party Founded: 6 January 1991
  
• Education:
  
  • School Leaving Certificate (SLC), Adarsha Secondary School, Jhapa (1970)
    
  • Honorary Doctorates (4):
    
    • Kangnam University, South Korea (2019)
      
    • United Nations University for Peace, Costa Rica (2018)
      
    • Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, India (2018)
      
    • Greenford International University, USA (2010) – controversial/Not Sure
      

Public Identity: Widely known for serving as Prime Minister of Nepal four times within a decade (2072, 2074, 2078, 2082 BS).

Political Background

K.P. Sharma Oli

• Years in Politics: Approximately 56 years
  
• Political Involvement: Active since mid-1960s as a student activist
  
• Major Roles:
  
  • Political activist and communist party member since 1970
    
  • Imprisoned for 14 years (1973–1987) during the Panchayat era
    
  • Central Committee Member, CPN-UML (from 1987 onwards)
    
  • Member of House of Representatives (1991, 1994, 1999)
    
  • Minister for Home Affairs (1994–1995)
    
  • Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs (2006–2007)
    
  • Constituent Assembly Member (2013)
    
  • Chairman of CPN-UML (from 2014, currently in third term as of 2025)
    
  • Prime Minister of Nepal (2015–2016, 2018–2021, 2021, 2024–2025)
    
• Party Affiliation: Communist Party member since 1970; founding member of CPN-UML
  
• First-Time Candidate: No

Election History

K.P. Sharma Oli

• Last Election Contested: House of Representatives, Jhapa-5 (2022 General Election)
  
• Votes Received: 52,319
  
• Result: Won with a landslide victory with a margin of 28,576 votes over the nearest rival, Khagendra Adhikari of Nepali Congress, who received 23,743 votes.

Key Promises

K.P. Sharma Oli

• Prioritize nationalism and national interests as the top agenda, ensuring no surrender or compromises on sovereignty.
• Promote nation-building through improving transport infrastructure and healthcare access. Rejecting foreign and outer interference and instability in the nation, consistently framing his political campaign in 2026 as ‘builders vs destroyers’
• Kickstarting energy infrastructure developments, including supplying domestic natural gas via pipelines to every household through the Dailekh Gas Extraction project, promises distribution within months if re-elected. 

Past Performance

KP Sharma Oli

• Major Achievements: During the tenure of the  Prime Minister of Nepal

1. Poverty reduction (~900,000 lifted pre-COVID), social security expansion, Dailekh gas discovery
2. Tunnel breakthroughs (Siddhababa, Nagdhunga), road progress (Narayangadh-Butwal, Kathmandu-Terai Expressway)
3. Post-2015 earthquake reconstruction (homes, heritages, schools).
4. China transit/BRI agreements, cross-border projects (railways, transmission lines).

• Failed Projects:

1. Melamchi Drinking Water Supply Project: Long-delayed mega project (initiated pre-Oli but heavily promised under his government)
2. Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion Multipurpose Project: Significant cost escalations from initial estimates despite early tunnel breakthrough
3. Delays in national pride projects like Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower, Budhi Gandaki Hydropower, and more.

Strengths and Limitations

K.P. Sharma Oli

Strengths: 

• Extensive experience in politics (over 50+ years in politics) 
• Known for bold nationalism (Kalapani-Lipulekh Map enforcement, pro-China stance for balance)

Weaknesses:

• Accused of large corruption scandals, cronyism, and heavy-handed tactics (social media ban in 2025, multiple parliament dissolutions)
• Frequently changing coalition governments caused repeated government changes, resulting in delays of national projects.
• Has not acknowledged the Gen-Z protests; repeatedly framed the movement as a ‘pre-planned’ movement by external elements.
• Oli’s stance has been defensive instead of acknowledging the movement’s anti-corruption and youth demands as drivers of change in the nation.

Candidate 2: Balendra Shah

Basic Information

• Full Name: Balendra Shah
  
• Age: 35 (Born 27 April 1990)
  
• Birthplace: Naradevi, Kathmandu, Bagmati Province
  
• Party: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) | राष्ट्रिय स्वतन्त्र पार्टी
  
• Education:
  
  • MTech in Structural Engineering, Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Karnataka, India
    
  • BE in Civil Engineering, Himalayan WhiteHouse International College
    
  • 10+2 (SLC), V.S. Niketan Higher Secondary School
    

Public Identity
Best known as the first independent candidate elected Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City in 2022, symbolizing a shift in traditional leadership patterns.

Political Background

Balendra Shah

• Years in Politics: 4 years
  
• Political Entry: Entered mainstream politics in 2022
  
• Major Roles:
  
  • Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (May 30, 2022 – January 18, 2026)
    
  • First independent mayor of Kathmandu
    
  • Parliamentary Party Leader, Rastriya Swatantra Party (since late 2025)
    
• Party Affiliation: Independent until joining RSP in December 2025

• First-Time General Election Candidate: Yes

Election History

Balendra Shah

1. Last Election Area: Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (2022 local elections, held on May 13, 2022). 
2. Votes received: 61,767 votes (approx 38.6% of total votes cast)
3. Result: Won by defeating Nepali Congress candidate Srijana Singh with 38,341 votes and CPN-UML candidate Keshav Sthapit with 38,117 votes, by a margin of over 23,000.
4. First-ever independent candidate contesting for the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City. 

Key Promises

Balendra Shah

• Strengthening federalism by improving coordination between provincial and local governmental structures, ensuring effective government and anti-corruption measures, and addressing Gen-Z movement demands.
• Institutionalizing Gen-Z agendas, especially accountability and transparency, replacing the old-system corruption.
• Building a manifesto based on voters’ input and needs for practical reforms; major focus on health, education, infrastructure, trade via consolidated public suggestions
  
  Major Achievements: 

1. Reclaimed public land (200+ ropanis), widened footpaths/roads, streetlights, Tukucha river restoration, waste management improvements, working as the Mayor of KMC.
2. Scholarships (30,000+ students), 32 urban health centers, Book-Free Friday, digital tax collection, and heritage preservation.
3. Efforts in promoting transparency through live council meetings, anti-enroachment efforts, and major traffic reforms.

Failed Projects:

1. Waste management technological revolution promised major changes, but the composting system didn’t start and materialize in waste management; the waste incineration plan dropped.
2. Larger promised reforms like major public transport development, pollution control, and vehicle wheel washing for dust were never implemented.

Strengths:

• Seen as an honest, energetic, and young entrant into politics, becoming the Mayor of Kathmandu at 31 in 2022.
• Focuses on “new vs old” change in governance, and direct public engagement
• Rising popularity among the youth, strong social media presence, tolerance for criticism, and acknowledgement of youth demands.

Weaknesses:

• Worked as the Mayor of Kathmandu for approx 4 years, before resigning mid-term in January 2026 for the general elections.
• Aggresive initiations like demolitions and crackdowns in squatter areas and street vendors, which were heavily criticized, unfinished long-term projects and initiatives (public transport and waste management reforms)
• Offensive social media posts and stances regarding neighbouring countries and political parties (‘indian slaves’, using profanity ‘f**k’, criticizing the USA, India, China, and Nepalese Parties)
• Communication gaps with traditional media (interviews) and engagement with the public post-resignation