For the upcoming House of Representatives election, five individuals from the energy sector have filed their candidacies. For the election scheduled for Falgun 21, they registered their nominations on Tuesday for the post of House of Representatives member (federal lawmaker).

The candidates from the energy sector include: Kulman Ghising, Chairperson of the Ujyaalo Party; energy expert Dr. Mukesh Raj Kafle, former Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority; energy expert Kushal Gurung; energy expert and entrepreneur Shriram Neupane; and energy entrepreneur Bharat Prasad Parajuli.

After serving two terms as Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority and later becoming Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation in the current election government, Chairperson Ghising recently resigned from his post and became active in politics. He has registered his candidacy from Kathmandu Constituency No. 3.

Dr. Kafle, also a former Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority and a professor at Pulchowk Engineering College, has filed his candidacy from Mahottari–1 representing the Nepali Congress. Actively involved in the energy sector for a long time, Kafle is also a member of the Nepali Congress General Committee. He has previously served as Vice General Secretary of the Engineers’ Association, Founding General Secretary of the Democratic Engineers’ Association, and President of the Free Students’ Union at Pulchowk Engineering Campus, among other roles.

Energy expert Gurung has filed his candidacy from Kaski Constituency No. 2 representing the Ujyaalo Nepal Party. Kaski is also his home district. Actively involved in renewable energy development for around two and a half decades, he has gained national and international expertise in renewable energy. He has worked as an expert in the private sector and has also provided advisory services to various government institutions.

Currently serving as President of the Renewable Energy Confederation of Nepal (RECON) and the Water and Energy Consultants’ Association of Nepal (WECAN), he has been active in areas such as solar energy, wind energy, biogas, carbon emission reduction, and carbon trading. He has also previously served as a board member of the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre. He is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Wind Power Nepal and a director of Gandaki Energy Pvt. Ltd. He entered active politics about a month and a half ago through the Ujyaalo Nepal Party, formed under the leadership of Kulman Ghising.

Neupane, an engineer by profession and Head of the Energy and Water Resources Department of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), previously served as Project Director of the Nagdhunga Tunnel Road Project. An expert in tunnel construction, energy expert Neupane is also an energy entrepreneur. He has filed his candidacy from Tanahun–2 representing the RSP.

Similarly, Parajuli has become a candidate from Sindhupalchok Constituency No. 1 representing the RSP. An energy entrepreneur, Parajuli has long been active in the energy sector and social service. A central committee member of the Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN), he is the Chairperson of Integrated Trading Company and Brahmayani Hydropower. Sindhupalchok is also his home district.