Jhapa, Nepal ¨C In Nepal¡¯s eastern plains, rival political flags depicting blue bells and red suns flutter over tea farms and brick homes ¡ª symbols of a local election campaign shaping landmark nationwide polls.
Two prime ministerial candidates are going head-to-head in Jhapa 5, turning the sleepy district into a pivotal battleground in the Himalayan nation¡¯s March 5 elections ¡ª the first since deadly anti-corruption protests in September toppled the government.
The district is the stronghold of Marxist leader KP Sharma Oli ¡ª the 73-year-old, four-time prime minister ousted by the unrest ¡ª who is confident of a return to power from a seat he has won multiple times.
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