Business Leaders Enter Nepal’s Parliamentary Race, Signaling Growing Private-Sector Influence in Politics

KATHMANDU: As political parties finalize candidate nominations for the House of Representatives election scheduled for Falgun 21, Nepal’s election landscape is witnessing a notable shift, with a growing number of business leaders, industrialists, bankers, tourism entrepreneurs, and startup founders entering active electoral politics. The trend highlights the rising influence of the private sector, corporate leadership, and entrepreneurial capital in Nepal’s democratic process, drawing strong attention from investors, policy analysts, and voters alike.

Nepal’s only dollar billionaire and CG Group Chairman Binod Chaudhary has filed his candidacy from Nawalparasi (West) Constituency No. 1 on a Nepali Congress ticket. A sitting lawmaker, Chaudhary is seeking re-election from the same constituency he won in the previous parliamentary election. In Morang Constituency No. 3, prominent medical entrepreneur Dr. Sunil Kumar Sharma, operator of Nobel Medical College and Kathmandu Medical College, has also been renominated by the Nepali Congress after securing a landslide victory in the last election.

A high-profile three-way contest is emerging in Syangja Constituency No. 1, where all major parties have fielded candidates with strong banking and tourism sector backgrounds. The Nepali Congress has nominated Bharat Raj Dhakal, former chairperson of Muktinath Development Bank, while the CPN-UML has fielded Meen Prasad Gurung, also a former chairperson of the same bank. The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has nominated Dhananjaya Regmi, former CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board and a well-known tourism entrepreneur.

The RSP has strategically emphasized business-driven candidates nationwide. Neetima Karki Bhandari, director of Bajeko Sekuwa, is contesting from Sarlahi Constituency No. 1, while manpower and service-sector entrepreneur DP Aryal has entered the race from Kathmandu Constituency No. 9, bringing investments in cooperatives, travel companies, and private education institutions.

One of the most closely watched constituencies is Kathmandu Constituency No. 1, where Asim Man Singh Basnet, operator of the ride-sharing platform Pathao Nepal, has filed as an independent candidate, appealing strongly to urban youth and digital-economy voters. He will face candidates from the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and RSP, making the constituency a focal point for discussions on technology policy, startup regulation, and urban governance.

In Gorkha Constituency No. 1, the Nepali Congress has nominated Prem Khatri, Managing Director of PK Ventures, representing the tourism and real estate sector. Meanwhile, Birendra Kumar Mahato, former chairperson of Machhapuchchhre Bank, is contesting from Siraha Constituency No. 4 under the Janamat Party, reflecting the increasing entry of banking professionals into legislative politics.

Industrialists and exporters are also prominent. Bhagirath Sapkota, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI)–affiliated business body, is contesting from Nawalpur Constituency No. 1 on a CPN-UML ticket. From Rupandehi Constituency No. 2, Chunna Prasad Sharma, operator of Yashoda Foods, is contesting for the Nepali Congress, while Birendra Kumar Kanodia, Chairperson of Lumbini Sugar Mills, is in the race from Kapilvastu Constituency No. 3 representing the UML.

Tourism entrepreneurs dominate candidacies in Dhading, where the Nepali Congress has nominated Ramesh Dhamala, former president of TAAN, from Constituency No. 2, and Krishna Rizal from Constituency No. 1. In Manang, both major parties have fielded tourism business figures, including incumbent lawmaker Yogesh Gauchan Thakali, reflecting the sector’s political weight in mountain economies.

Candidates with investments in energy, hydropower, hospitality, transport, digital payments, and microfinance are contesting across the country. Anil Rungta, a well-known capital market investor, is contesting from Parsa Constituency No. 1, while Hira Bahadur KC, an energy entrepreneur with hydropower investments, is contesting from Baglung Constituency No. 2. Arvind Sah, co-founder of digital wallet Khalti, has entered the race from Bara Constituency No. 3, marking a rare entry of a fintech founder into parliamentary politics.

Political analysts say the surge of business leaders in the election reflects voter demand for economic governance, private-sector–led growth, job creation, investment-friendly policy, and regulatory reform. With Nepal seeking higher foreign direct investment (FDI), export growth, and digital transformation, the performance of these candidates is being closely monitored by domestic and international investors.

The expanding presence of entrepreneurs and industrialists in Nepal’s parliamentary race signals a structural shift in the country’s political economy, where business credibility, economic expertise, and market-oriented leadership are increasingly becoming decisive electoral factors.