Ranju Darshana Neupane, representing the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has emerged victorious in Nepal’s parliamentary elections by securing the Kathmandu-1 seat. Neupane, aged 30, garnered 15,455 votes, defeating her closest rival Prabal Thapa from the Nepali Congress who received 6,364 votes. Another candidate, Rabindra Mishra of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, secured 3,972 votes.
This victory marks Neupane’s second attempt at entering Parliament, having previously contested as an Independent candidate in the 2022 elections without success. She gained public attention during the 2017 local elections when she contested for the mayoral position of Kathmandu Metropolitan City and secured 23,439 votes, establishing herself as a significant figure in alternative politics.
Neupane’s political journey commenced in 2013 with the Bibeksheel Nepali Party, known for its “Nepal Khulla Chha (Nepal is Open)” campaign against frequent national shutdowns imposed by traditional political parties. Following a period of reduced political activity to focus on motherhood, she reengaged with politics after the merger of her former party with the RSP just before the recent elections. Neupane, previously the general secretary of Bibeksheel Sajha, now serves on the RSP’s central committee.
