Of the 275 members of Nepal’s House of Representatives, 165 are elected through the first-past-the-post system and 110 through proportional representation. In the upcoming parliamentary elections, a total of 3,406 candidates are contesting for the directly elected seats.
According to the Election Commission, 55 candidates holding PhD degrees are competing in the first-past-the-post races. Of them, 10 are independent candidates.
The PhD-holding independent candidates are: Dr Yubaraj Sangroula (Jhapa–2), Dr Rajkumar Rai (Khotang), Dr Devaraj Roka (Udayapur–1), Dr Shambhu Pokharel (Kathmandu–1), Dr Suresh Kumar Dhungana (Kathmandu–3), Dr Panchakumari Manandhar (Kathmandu–9), Dr Dharmaraj Bohara (Lalitpur–1), Dr Ashok Kumar Maharjan (Lalitpur–3), Dr Biju Shrestha (Sindhupalchok–2), and Dr Niranjan Koirala (Kaski–2)
There are 45 PhD-holding candidates representing political parties. Among them, nine are from the Rastriya Swatantra Party: Dr Swarnim Wagle (Tanahun–1), Dr Rishidhan Thulung Rai (Solukhumbu), Dr Krishna Hari Budhathoki (Ramechhap), Dr Ashok Kumar Singh (Sarlahi–4), Dr Bikram Timilsina (Nuwakot–1), Dr Achyutam Lamichhane (Nuwakot–2), Dr Dhananjaya Regmi (Syangja–1), Dr Anand Bahadur Chand (Kailali–5), and Dr Tara Prasad Joshi (Dadeldhura–1).
Six PhD-holding candidates are contesting from the Communist Party of Nepal: Dr Deuman Sambhah (Morang–3), Dr Krishna Raj Pant (Chitwan–1), Dr Som Bahadur Thapa (Tanahun–2), Dr Dipendra Rokaya (Humla), Dr Bhim Bahadur Rawal (Achham–1), and Dr Madhav Prasad Pant (Kanchanpur–2).
Five candidates with PhD degrees are running under the Nepali Congress banner: Dr Mukesh Raj Kafle (Mahottari–1), Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat (Nuwakot–1), Dr Chandrakant Bhandari (Gulmi–1), Dr Sudan Kumar Wali (Rolpa), and Dr Govinda Raj Pokharel (Pyuthan–1).
Four PhD holders are contesting from the CPN-UML: Dr Arjun Kumar Karki (Sankhuwasabha), Dr Ajaykranti Shakya (Kathmandu–9), Dr Rajan Bhattarai (Kathmandu–4), and Dipak Prasad Bhatt (Kanchanpur–3).
The Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal has fielded four PhD-holding candidates: Dr Wanvi Singh (Saptari–4), Dr Krishna Chandra Prasad Sah (Dhanusha–4), Dr Jay Prakash Rai (Sarlahi–3), and Dr Kripasindhu Prasad (Parsa–4).
The chair of the Janamat Party, C.K. Raut, himself holds a PhD and is contesting from Saptari–2. In addition, Janamat Party candidates with PhDs include Dr Birendra Prasad Mahato (Siraha–4) and Dr Surendra Prasad Yadav (Dhanusha–2).
Two PhD holders are running under the Ujyaalo Nepal Party: Dr Vijay Kandel (Nawalparasi Bardaghat Susta West–1) and Dr Dipak Chaudhary (Saptari–2).
The Shram Sanskriti Party has also fielded two PhD candidates: Dr Uddhav Kumar Rai (Okhaldhunga–1) and Dr Dhan Bahadur Shrestha (Kathmandu–10).
From the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, PhD holders include Dr Sundar Ram Bohara in Kathmandu–3 and Dr Mukunda Prasad Gajurel in Sindhuli–2.
The Pragatishil Loktantrik Party has nominated two PhD holders: Dr Shekhar Aryal (Kathmandu–3) and Dr Shri Bahadur Kuwar (Rupandehi–1).
In Rupandehi–2, Dr Thamman Bahadur Budha, a PhD holder, is contesting from the National Republic Nepal. Likewise, Mitery Party candidate Dr Raksha Kumar Rai, running in Sunsari–1, holds a PhD, while the Rastriya Mukti Party has nominated PhD holder Dr Rajib Kumar Jha in Dhanusha–3.
