Candidate watch: Sushant Vaidik from Pyuthan-1

Sushant Vaidik, 31, is an economist and policy advisor contesting from Pyuthan–1 under the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) banner. With an academic foundation in economics and political economy, he frames his candidacy around evidence-based governance, administrative reform, and local economic transformation.

He holds an MSc from the London School of Economics and a Master’s degree in Economics and Business Studies from the Norwegian School of Economics, specialising in economics, data analysis, and political economy. His academic training informs his emphasis on data-driven decision-making and measurable policy outcomes.

Professionally, Vaidik has served as an economic expert advising two consecutive chief ministers of Lumbini province, where he worked on economic development planning and revenue policy reform. His provincial government experience centred on strengthening planning frameworks and improving fiscal approaches. 

He has also worked as a consultant at The Asia Foundation and served as visiting faculty at King’s College, Kathmandu. Beyond public policy, he has been involved in the startup ecosystem, advising or investing in four startups across Nepal and Malaysia.

Within the RSP, he is a central committee member. He has not previously held elected office. This marks his first electoral contest.

Policy and legislative agenda

Vaidik centres his platform on restructuring governance systems to prioritise measurable outcomes over rhetoric. His core policy focus includes economic reform, evidence-based policymaking, and digital governance. He identifies systemic weaknesses in development planning, administrative processes, and local economic competitiveness as primary barriers to progress.

Drawing on his advisory experience, he advocates embedding regulatory and economic analysis into public decision-making. If elected, he aims to introduce legislative requirements mandating Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) for major infrastructure projects to prevent wasteful spending.

He also proposes digitising key local government services, including permits and social security services, to reduce inefficiencies, eliminate intermediaries, and curb corruption. Administrative reform, including right sizing the bureaucracy and reducing political interference in regulatory processes, forms another pillar of his campaign.

At the constituency level, Vaidik emphasises job-centric economic initiatives in Pyuthan, agricultural commercialisation, and fostering a transparent investment climate to generate local employment and reduce youth migration.

Sidebar

Top priority if elected

• Evidence-based policy: Shift governance from rhetoric-driven politics to data-driven policymaking
• Employment and economic growth: Launch job-centric initiatives in Pyuthan and promote agricultural commercialisation to curb youth migration. Focus on creating a transparent investment climate to generate local jobs
• Digital governance: Implement GIS-based systems and e-governance tools to improve public service delivery
• Administrative reform: Rightsize the bureaucracy, remove political interference, and simplify regulatory hurdles for the private sector
• Outcome-oriented leadership: Prioritise measurable indicators such as per-capita income growth and project completion rates

Major concerns

• Lack of evidence-based policy: Policies based on emotional rhetoric rather than rigorous economic data, leading to failed development projects
• Systemic youth migration: Mass exodus of youth as a symptom of a stagnant, uncompetitive local economy
• Bureaucratic inefficiency: Red tape and political interference that prevent efficient public service delivery
• Digital divide in governance: Manual, slow-moving administrative processes that create space for corruption

Previous experiences that best prepare him for the role

• Advisory roles to two consecutive chief ministers of Lumbini on economic planning and revenue reform
• Experience in consulting, academic teaching, and startup ecosystem engagement

Goals for the term

• Enact legislation mandating Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) for major infrastructure and development projects
• Digitise local government services in Pyuthan to eliminate “middlemen” and enhance transparency
• Institutionalise economic and regulatory analysis within policymaking frameworks