As a PR candidate, Acharya Kharel has publicly emphasized issues related to women’s rights, the welfare of martyr families, labor rights, and the representation of marginalized and oppressed communities.
Jhapa: Yamuna Devi Acharya Kharel has been nominated as a proportional representation (PR) candidate from Jhapa Constituency No. 2 on behalf of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), contesting under the party’s election symbol, the rose. Her candidacy comes at a time when political parties are emphasizing inclusive representation and the inclusion of women and conflict-affected families in national politics.
Known locally as a long-time community-oriented figure, Acharya Kharel has spent decades engaged in social service and grassroots activities. Her involvement in local peace and development committees is often cited as a key foundation of her public life, particularly during and after Nepal’s conflict period, when community mediation and social cohesion initiatives were considered crucial at the local level.
Academically, she completed her Intermediate Level (I.L.) studies from Mechi Multiple Campus in Jhapa and later pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science at Sukuna Multiple Campus, studying up to the third year. However, her academic journey was interrupted following the death of her husband, martyr Dev Kumar Acharya ‘D. Kaudinya’, during the conflict era, an event that significantly shaped her personal and public trajectory.
Professionally, Acharya Kharel served for more than two decades as a lower secondary-level teacher at Janata Secondary School in Khudunabari, Arjundhara Municipality. After taking voluntary retirement from teaching, she established small-scale cottage industries, including Ganga–Jamuna Dal Moth and related local enterprises, reportedly generating employment opportunities for over 20 families in the area.
Following the Second Constituent Assembly elections, she has stated that she faced economic and political retaliation, which she links to broader structural inequalities and political polarization in the post-conflict political environment. Analysts note that such experiences are not uncommon among politically active individuals associated with the conflict-era legacy in Nepal.
As a PR candidate, Acharya Kharel has publicly emphasized issues related to women’s rights, the welfare of martyr families, labor rights, and the representation of marginalized and oppressed communities. Her candidacy aligns with her party’s stated agenda of social justice, inclusion, and equitable political participation.
Under Nepal’s proportional representation electoral system, her potential entry into Parliament will depend on the party’s overall national vote share rather than constituency-level direct voting outcomes. Political observers suggest that candidates with backgrounds in education, social service, and conflict-affected communities may resonate with segments of voters seeking broader social representation within the federal legislature.
Tuesday,17 Feb, 2026 
