Bhaktapur-1 Election Results: Rukesh Ranjit of RSP Wins, Ending NWPP’s 34-Year Era
7th March 2026, Kathmandu
In a landmark development for Nepalese politics, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has breached one of the most resilient political fortresses in the country.
Bhaktapur-1 Election Results
Rukesh Ranjit has been elected as the Member of the House of Representatives (HoR) from Bhaktapur Constituency No. 1, defeating the long-standing incumbent from the Nepal Workers Peasants Party (NWPP).
The Election Results: A Decisive Victory
According to official data released by the Election Commission, Rukesh Ranjit secured his seat with 33,436 votes. His primary opponent, the seasoned politician Prem Suwal of the NWPP, trailed behind with 28,147 votes.
The final tally confirms a victory margin of 5,289 votes, signaling a clear desire for change among Bhaktapur’s voters.
Detailed Vote Count for Bhaktapur-1
The election saw participation from several major political players, but the competition remained primarily between the RSP and NWPP. The final standings are as follows:
Rukesh Ranjit (RSP): 33,436 votes
Prem Suwal (NWPP): 28,147 votes
Kiran Neupane (Nepali Congress): 4,228 votes
Som Prasad Pandey (CPN-UML): 3,721 votes
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Bharat Bahadur Khadka (RPP): 2,472 votes
Hariram Labaju (CPN): 1,177 votes
Breaking a Three-Decade Legacy
Bhaktapur-1 has long been synonymous with the Nepal Workers Peasants Party. For over three decades, the constituency remained untouched by the shifting tides of national politics.
Since the general elections of 1991 (2048 BS), the NWPP had maintained an unbroken winning streak:
Narayan Man Bijukchhe, the NWPP Chairman, dominated the seat in 1991, 1994, 1999, 2008, and 2013.
Prem Suwal continued this dominance with victories in the 2017 and 2022 elections.
Rukesh Ranjit’s win is being hailed as a “political earthquake” in the region, as it marks the first time since 1991 that a candidate from a different party has claimed victory in this specific constituency.
Conclusion: A New Era for Bhaktapur?
The rise of the Rastriya Swatantra Party in a traditional stronghold like Bhaktapur suggests a significant shift in the Nepalese electorate’s mindset, favoring newer faces and alternative political platforms over established legacies.
As Rukesh Ranjit prepares to represent Bhaktapur-1 in Parliament, all eyes will be on how this change impacts the local development and political landscape of the historic city.
For more: Bhaktapur-1 Election Results
