title: 2019 Kaski–2 by-election
text: # 2019 Kaski–2 by-election
  
  A by-election was held in Kaski 2 constituency of Nepal on 30 November 2019, following the death of incumbent Rabindra Prasad Adhikari in a helicopter crash. Adhikari was a 3-term Member of Parliament from Kaski. He was the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation at the time of his death. The by-election was won by Bidya Bhattarai, his widow, with 54.27% of the vote. She defeated her nearest rival, Khem Raj Paudel of Nepali Congress, by 8,403 votes.
  
  ## Candidates
  
  A total of 21 candidates took part in the election. Nepal Communist Party (NCP) selected Bidya Bhattarai, widow of Rabindra Prasad Adhikari, as their candidate. Her primary opponent was Khem Raj Paudel of Nepali Congress.
  
  ## Result
  
  2019 Kaski–2 by-election :
  
  | Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | +/– |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Bidya Bhattarai | Nepal Communist Party | 24,394 | 54.27 | –0.95 |
  | | Khem Raj Paudel | Nepali Congress | 15,991 | 35.58 | –2.28 |
  | | Dharma Raj Gurung | Samajbadi Party | 1,922 | 4.28 | +2.97 |
  | | Rom Bahadur Bhandari | Rastriya Prajatantra Party | 1,153 | 2.57 | New |
  | | Rajani K.C. | Sajha Party | 942 | 2.10 | New |
  | Other candidates | Other candidates | Other candidates | 544 | 1.21 | – |
  | Total | Total | Total | 44,946 | 100.00 | – |
  | Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 44,946 | 98.68 | |
  | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 600 | 1.32 | |
  | Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 45,546 | 100.00 | |
  | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 71,871 | 63.37 | –7.20 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,403 | 18.45 | +1.33 |
  | | Nepal Communist Party hold | Nepal Communist Party hold | Swing | Swing | +0.67 |
  