Bam Dev Gautam
Nepali politician
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Bam Dev Gautam (Nepali: बाम देव गौतम) is a Nepalese politician and the former Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal.[1][2] Currently the senior leader of Nepali Communist Party, Gautam is a former Senior vice Chairman of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist). He is currently a member of the National Assembly nominated by the President.[3]
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Bamdev Gautam | |
|---|---|
Gautam in 2015 | |
| Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs | |
| In office 2014–2015 | |
| President | Ram Baran Yadav |
| Prime Minister | Sushil Koirala |
| Preceded by | Prakash Man Singh |
| Succeeded by | Bijay Kumar Gachhadar |
| In office 2008–2009 | |
| President | Ram Baran Yadav |
| Prime Minister | Pushpa Kamal Dahal |
| Preceded by | Krishna Prasad Sitaula |
| Succeeded by | Bijay Kumar Gachhadar |
| In office 1997–1998 | |
| Monarch | Birendra of Nepal |
| Prime Minister | Lokendra Bahadur Chand |
| Member of National Assembly | |
| Assumed office 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Yubraj Khatiwada |
| Constituency | Nominated |
| Member of Constituent Assembly of Nepal | |
| In office 2008–2013 | |
| Constituency | Bardiya 1 |
| In office 2013–2017 | |
| Constituency | Bardiya 1 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Party | Nepali Communist Party |
| Other political affiliations | CPN (ML) (1998-2002) CPN (UML) (until 1998, 2002-2018) Nepal Communist Party (2018-2021) CPN (Unified Socialist) (2024-2025) |
| Spouse | Tulsi Thapa |
Gautam left Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) on 4 September 2021 and has not joined any party yet. It was reported that he may join CPN (Unified Socialist) or float a new party of his own soon.[4][5] Later Gautam wrote an election song for CPN (Unified Socialist) after which he was thought to have joined that party. Gautam announced his own party on 28 June 2022, named the Communist Party of Nepal (Unity National Campaign).[6]
Personal life
After completing his SLC, Gautam started teaching as a profession. He is married to Tulsi Thapa who is also a Member of House of Representatives.
Political life
Early political career
Bam dev Gautam joined the Communist party of Nepal in 1964 and participated in full-time party activities from Rupandehi District in 1969. He became District Secretary of CPN Rupandehi in 1972. He played a major role in establishing Mukti Morcha with Madan Bhandari and Jeev Raj Ashrit. He later became Central member of Communist Party of Nepal(Marxist–Leninist) in 1980. After the merger, he was made a Politburo member of CPN(UML) and also attained the position of Deputy General Secretary of the party.[7]
He was elected MP from Bardiya Constituency No. 1 in first General Election 1991 and Mid Term Election 1994. Later he became the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister in February 1997.
Split of CPN (UML) and formation of CPN (ML)
Bam Dev Gautam played a major role in splitting the CPN(UML) over the issue of Mahakali treaty with India and later formed CPN(ML) on 5 March 1998. He was elected General Secretary of the party in March of that year.
Merger to CPN (UML)
The party failed to get a single seat in House in next election. Later, Bam Dev Gautam again joined the CPN (UML).[8] On 31 August 2008, Bam Dev Gautam was appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister in the Maoist-led coalition government.[9]
In federal democratic republican Nepal
In February 2009, Bam Dev Gautam was elected one of the vice-chairman of CPN(UML) in Butwal General Convention.[10] On 2 May 2010 during Maoist protests, Bam Dev Gautam called for the Prime Minister to resign to end the current political stalemate.[11] He was a member of the 2nd Nepalese Constituent Assembly. He won bot the seats he contested Bardia 1 and Pyuthan 1 in CA assembly, 2013 from the CPN (UML).[12][13]
2017-present
In 2022 he was defeated by Sanjay Gautam of Nepali Congress inspite of left alliance forged between CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Centre).[14][15] Presently, Gautam serves as member of National Assembly nominated by President on recommendation of council of ministers.[3]
Electoral history
2017 legislative elections
| Bardiya 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | |
| Nepali Congress | Sanjay Kumar Gautam | 44,829 | |
| CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) | Bam Dev Gautam | 44,076 | |
| CPN (Marxist–Leninist) | Nar Bahadur Bohora | 2,372 | |
| Others | 2,228 | ||
| Invalid votes | 5,948 | ||
| Result | Congress gain | ||
| Source: Election Commission | |||
2013 Constituent Assembly election
| Bardiya 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | |
| CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) | Bam Dev Gautam | 18,347 | |
| UCPN (Maoist) | Bhuwan Kumar Tharu | 11,628 | |
| Nepali Congress | Bhuwaneshwar Chaudhary | 8,598 | |
| Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum, Nepal (Democratic) | Thakur Singh Tharu | 1,174 | |
| Others | 3,595 | ||
| Result | CPN (UML) gain | ||
| Source: NepalNews[16] | |||
| Pyuthan 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | |
| CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) | Bam Dev Gautam | 13,962 | |
| Rastriya Janamorcha | Kishna Bahadur Khadka | 8,724 | |
| UCPN (Maoist) | Navaraj Subedi | 7,054 | |
| Nepali Congress | Hukum Bahadur Bista | 5,215 | |
| CPN (Marxist–Leninist) | Yam Bahadur Gurung | 1,017 | |
| Others | 626 | ||
| Result | CPN (UML) gain | ||
| Source: NepalNews[16] | |||
2008 Constituent Assembly election
| Bardiya 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | |
| CPN (Maoist) | Sarala Regmi | 17,955 | |
| CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) | Bam Dev Gautam | 13,773 | |
| Nepali Congress | Malati Sodari | 6,831 | |
| Rastriya Prajatantra Party | Govinda Prasad Tharu | 2,324 | |
| CPN (Marxist–Leninist) | Nar Bahadur Bohora | 1,815 | |
| Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum, Nepal | Thakur Singh Tharu | 1,340 | |
| Others | 1,154 | ||
| Invalid votes | 1,163 | ||
| Result | Maoist gain | ||
| Source: Election Commission[17] | |||
1999 legislative elections
| Bardiya 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | |
| Nepali Congress | Kashi Paudel | 17,219 | |
| CPN (Marxist–Leninist) | Bam Dev Gautam | 13,247 | |
| CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) | Gobinda Prasad Koirala | 10,885 | |
| Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Chand) | Gaurav Chand | 1,646 | |
| Others | 2,774 | ||
| Invalid votes | 1,490 | ||
| Result | Congress gain | ||
| Source: Election Commission[18][19] | |||
1994 legislative elections
| Bardiya 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | |
| CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) | Bam Dev Gautam | 16,933 | |
| Nepali Congress | Phul Ram Tharu | 10,949 | |
| Rastriya Prajatantra Party | Thakur Singh Tharu | 5,757 | |
| Result | CPN (UML) hold | ||
| Source: Election Commission[18] | |||
1991 legislative elections
| Bardiya 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | |
| CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) | Bam Dev Gautam | 16,486 | |
| Nepali Congress | 11,712 | ||
| Result | CPN (UML) gain | ||
| Source: | |||
See also
- 2021 split in Nepal Communist Party
- 2021 split in Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist)
- CPN (Unity National Campaign)