Gokarna Bista

Gokarna Bista is a Nepalese politician and former secretary of Communist Party of Nepal (UML). He served as Minister of Energy under prime minister Jhala Nath Khanal and as Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security in the KP Oli-led cabinet. He was elected in the 2013 Nepalese Constituent Assembly election from Gulmi district constituency number 3. In April 2011, during his tenure as the minister of energy, he was stabbed by two motorcyclists outside his house. He became popular for revolutionary changes in the power sector of Nepal.

Early life and career

A central member of, Gokarna Raj Bista was born on July 1, 1965, in Dohali-3, Gulmi District. Son of Bhim Bahadur and Chinta Kala Bista, he commenced his political career in 1978.

Succeeded to take out his name in Public Service Commission in 1983, he quit the government job immediately as disputes erupted with Kaji Man Kandnawa, Anchaladish(zone chief), on the very first day of his job. Then onwards, he joined politics and took membership of the party in 1986.

Bista served as a Bagmati zone chairman and a Kathmandu district chairman of ANNFSU, students’ wing of CPN-UML. He took assignment as a Chief to different departments such as Organization committee of Central Committee, Education Department, Creative Department, Publicity and Promotion Department.

After involving with students’ politics, he joined the working committee of then Democratic National Youth Association DNYA (Now Youth Association of Nepal) in 1993. He became the chairman of DNYA for two terms starting from 2000 after being General Secretary in 1996.

Bista, who served as an in-charge to different departments like Local Department, Students’ Department and Youth Department, is currently serving as an in-charge to Intellectual Council of CPN-UML.

A parliamentarian of 1996 parliament, elected from Gulmi-3, Bista was appointed as a Minister for Energy during Jhala Nath Khanal led government. In 2008 CA election, he was defeated by then CPN-Maoist's candidate from same constituency, Gulmi-3.

A locally popular leader Bista became quite popular for his attempts to implement the revolutionary changes in country's power sector including power cuts. He holds master's degree in Management Faculty and bachelor's degree in law.

Family He was born on 1 July 1965 at Gulmi district to Bhim Bahadur Bista and Chinta Kala Bista.

Electoral history

1999 House of Representatives Election Gulmi-3

Party Candidate Votes Status CPN-UML Gokarna Bista 18,020 Elected Nepali Congress Trailokya Pratap Sen 15,764 Lost 2008 Constituent Assembly Election Gulmi-3

Party Candidate Votes Status Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) Chandra Bahadur Thapa 16,581 Elected CPN-UML Gokarna Bista Lost

2013 Constituent Assembly Election Gulmi-3

Party Candidate Votes Status CPN-UML Gokarna Bista 15,012 Elected Nepali Congress Trailokya Pratap Sen 8,745 Lost

2017 House of Representatives Election Gulmi-2

Party Candidate Votes Status CPN-UML Gokarna Bista 34,918 Elected Nepali Congress Chandra K.C. 20,156 Lost 2022 House of Representatives Election Gulmi-2

Party Candidate Votes Status CPN-UML Gokarna Bista 28, 476 Elected Communist Party of Nepal(Unified Socialist) Ramkumari Jhakri 26,441 Lost