By-elections  Litmus Test For Parties’ Popularity

Major political parties are prepared to contest the by-elections, which are viewed as a litmus test for the popularity of major forces such as the CPN-UML, Nepali Congress, CPN- Maoist Centre (MC) and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). The by-election will be held in Ilam constituency- 2 for a House of Representatives seat and for a provincial parliamentary seat in Bajhang (A) of Sudurpaschim Assembly on April 27. The by-election holds special significance since it occurs in the midst of a political change in the ruling alliance. Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, chairman of the Maoist Centre and Prime Minister, caused "a political upheaval" when he abandoned the Nepali Congress and formed a new ruling coalition with his former rival, the UML, and Rabi Lamichhane's RSP a few weeks ago.