Jhapa, Jan. 16 -- The Jhapa constituency 5, long a stronghold of CPN-UML chief KP Sharma Oli, is now set for an unprecedented contest as Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah prepares to contest from the constituency in the March 5 elections.

During the parliamentary election in 2022, Oli emerged victorious from Jhapa constituency 5, setting a record. He was elected for the House of Representatives with the highest number of votes till then by a candidate. Oli defeated Nepali Congress candidate Khagendra Adhikari with a thumping margin. The UML supremo bagged 52,319 votes while Adhikari secured 23,743.

Jhapa-5 has been Oli's electoral constituency since 1991, and he has contested elections from the area continuously since. He suffered defeat on...