Kathmandu, March 6 (NationPress) Ranju Darshana Neupane, the candidate from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) representing Kathmandu-1, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first individual to win a seat in Nepal's parliamentary elections held on Thursday.

Neupane, who is 30 years old, earned a total of 15,455 votes, surpassing her main competitor, Prabal Thapa from the Nepali Congress, who received 6,364 votes. Rabindra Mishra from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party trailed with 3,972 votes.

This victory marks Darshana's second attempt at gaining a parliamentary position, following an unsuccessful run as an Independent candidate in the 2022 elections.

Her political journey began gaining traction during the 2017 local elections, where she ran for the mayoral position in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, securing 23,439 votes and establishing herself as a key figure in alternative politics.

Darshana's political roots trace back to 2013 when she was part of the now-defunct Bibeksheel Nepali Party, which spearheaded the Nepal Khulla Chha (Nepal is Open) campaign, protesting against the frequent nationwide shutdowns imposed by traditional political entities.

After a hiatus from the political scene to focus on motherhood, she returned to politics following the merger of her former party, Bibeksheel Sajha Party, with the RSP just months prior to the elections. Darshana had previously held the role of general secretary in Bibeksheel Sajha and is currently a member of the RSP’s central committee.

The Bibeksheel movement has been recognized for its role in laying the groundwork for alternative political discourse in Nepal.

Initially, the RSP had placed Darshana on its proportional representation list. However, due to her dissatisfaction with her position, the party revised its strategy and nominated her as a direct candidate from Kathmandu-1 under the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system.

Born in March 1996, Darshana was raised in Kathmandu by a single mother, whose efforts as a tailor provided for her education despite financial obstacles. This upbringing has fostered her resilience and dedication to social justice.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies from Kathmandu University and a Master’s degree in Political Science from Tribhuvan University, along with a postgraduate diploma in counselling psychology.

In addition to her political pursuits, she is actively engaged in mental health awareness initiatives, offers basic psychosocial counselling, and teaches at Thames International College in Kathmandu.