For the first time in its seven-decade history, the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has seen representation from Mahottari in its central committee. Rajkaran Mahato, the former secretary of FNJ Mahottari, was elected as a central committee member in the elections held on Dec 12.

Mahato, who contested for the position of Central Member (Open Madheshi category), defeated his opponent, Chandradev Kamati, by a margin of 1,328 votes. Mahato secured a total of 3,893 votes from across the country.  

On Tuesday, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Devraj Ghimire, handed over the election certificate to Mahato during a formal ceremony.  

Hari Prasad Mandal, former chairperson of FNJ Mahottari, remarked that Mahato’s election marks the first time in Mahottari’s 72-year journalism history that a journalist from the region has reached the central committee. 

Currently serving as a senior correspondent for Annapurna Post, Mahato has been actively reporting on grassroots issues for the past 15 years.