Binod Chaudhary Intensifies Nawalparasi Campaign After Congress Power Shift

KATHMANDU — Binod Chaudhary, Nepal’s only dollar billionaire and a former Member of Parliament, has intensified his election campaign ahead of the March 5 House of Representatives (HoR) election. This surge in grassroots activity follows a significant consolidation of his influence within the party; Chaudhary recently secured a position in the Nepali Congress Central Working Committee (CWC) during the party’s Special General Convention held in mid-January 2026.

The industrialist’s campaign in Nawalparasi constituency no. 1 is now bolstered by his formal elevation to the party’s decision-making core under the new leadership of Chairman Gagan Thapa. Chaudhary’s successful transition from the faction of former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to the Thapa-led administration marks a critical realignment. Analysts observe that this move cements Chaudhary’s “power proximity” doctrine—a decades-long pattern of aligning with the prevailing center of political gravity, regardless of the ruling ideology or internal faction.

Chaudhary’s entry into the Thapa-led CWC underscores a strategic adaptability that has kept him close to state power through radically different political epochs. Prior to this shift, he had maintained close ties with Sher Bahadur Deuba, who facilitated his entry into the party in 2017. Under the Deuba leadership, Chaudhary secured a proportional representation seat in 2017 and subsequently won a direct parliamentary election from Nawalparasi West-1 in 2022, where he defeated rival Hridayesh Tripathi by a margin of more than 7,000 votes.

This latest political pivot is consistent with Chaudhary’s historical trajectory, which spans from the active monarchy to the republican era. During the Panchayat system, he cultivated a business partnership with Prince Dhirendra Shah to navigate the restrictive economic environment, admitting in his autobiography, “I had to do business with Dhirendra due to the need of that time… he gave me protection.” He also supported the 1979 campaign of Panchayat-era Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa.

Following the abolition of the monarchy, Chaudhary aligned himself with the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), serving as a Constituent Assembly member from 2008 to 2012 under the CPN-UML’s proportional quota. His relationship with the communist leadership dates back to 1994, when he contributed to the party’s economic policy draft. Despite his profile as a quintessential capitalist controlling CG Corp Global, he successfully represented the communist bloc for a full term.

Now, as the country heads toward the snap polls on March 5 following the dissolution of the House, Chaudhary’s integration into the new party structure ensures his continued relevance. His campaign in Nawalparasi is expected to leverage both his local development record and his renewed clout within the central leadership.