Employment, irrigation, highway construction voters’ major concerns in Nawalparasi East

Gaindakot, Nov 7.

The election alliances of the ruling and opposition parties are giving tough challenge to each other in election constituency-1 of Nawalparasi (East of Susta) in Gandaki Province in the elections to the House of Representatives (HoR) due on November 20, according to the voters and local leaders.

Nepali Congress leader Dr. Shashank Koirala, who contested election three times from this region including twice for the Constituent Assembly, is contesting for the fourth time.

Likewise, candidate of the CPN-UML, Krishna Prasad Poudel, is also an experienced political leader who represented his party at the erstwhile Constituent Assembly. There are 13 other candidates, including Rajan Gautam from the Nepal Swatantra Party, Dr. Mohani Lal Bhushal from the RPP Nepal, and single women independent candidate, Bindu Bhattarai.

As the elections are approaching, the voters of this region have said that they would vote for the candidate who understands peace, prosperity, development and public spirit. Voters, who expressed their ire and displeasure at the indifference of the candidates towards the fulfillment of their promises made during the previous elections, say that they will exercise their right to vote with wisdom.

Sumitra Darai, who makes a living selling roasted corn on the side of the East-West Highway in Gairi of Gaindakot Municipality, complained that although development was expected from the people's representatives, they had taken a loan to pave the road.

"Previous candidates had promised to blacktop the roads in the area but ultimately it was us who raised the money to construct the infrastructure. Each family had to raise more than Rs. 100,000 to blacktop the road. My brother has yet not been able to repay the loan taken to build the road," she said.

She said that she would vote in the upcoming elections even if the elected people's representatives did not support the local people in development.

"You have to vote and you should vote for good people. Vote for those who support the people in their sorrows and joys," she said.

Employment and irrigation

Voters across the Constituency-1 of Nawalparasi (East of Susta) have voiced their concerns to the lack of employment opportunities in the area and lack of promotion of self-employment projects.

"There are a few industries here but a large number of youths were forced to migrate abroad in search of jobs. But no candidate has so far talked about creating jobs and promoting youth and women employment and self-employment," said Maya Chand, a local of Devchuli Municipality-17.

Another local of Devchuli, Laxmi Sapkota, said that a few candidates who reached their houses did not talk or asked about public concerns and local development issues but just handed over their pamphlets to them.

Chandra Dutta Sapkota, 77, of Kuleni, Devchuli-17, also expressed his dissatisfaction over the candidates behaviour of making rounds of their area with utmost humility during election time and not showing up again afterwards.

Other major concerns of the people are the delay in the expansion of the Narayangadh-Butwal section of the East-West Highway, completion of the Kaligandaki Corridor road while they are also disappointed by the indifference of the previously elected candidates and federal and provincial governments seen in roads, irrigation, education and employment, which are directly related to the people.

The youths of Bote Tole in Gaindakot municipality, Rajesh Bista, Krishna Bhujel and Hiralal Shrees, are of the opinion that along with the employment, Narayani River control and road maintenance should be included in the development agenda of the candidates.

However, they also maintained that people should vote for the best candidates without expecting any immediate incentives in cash and goods.

Muna Sherchan of Kuleni said that although she has been voting for the same party in the past elections, people should reconsider such tendency and opt for a better candidate.

People in Kuleni also complained about the attack of rhinos and tigers that come to the village from the Chitwan National Park which is at the distance of three kilometres.

"For the past few years, the rhinos have destroyed the habitat and caused a lot of damage. Four people have lost their lives in past two years," said Chandra Dutt.

Muna complained that there is no support from the government in the construction of local roads and water supply facilities and they were forced to raise fund on their own for such construction.

"Those who take our vote and form the government should solve our problems. The days of people having to pay for public works like road construction and water supply should end,” she said.

 

Religion and community influence

It has been pointed out that the influence of religion and community could also be decisive in the results of this election. Dr. Koirala, who has been advocating Hinduism within the party, could get the sympathy of the followers of the religion while Paudel, who originally hails from Baglung district, could win the sympathy of people who migrated from there. This election constituency has a large number of voters migrated from Baglung.

However, the argument that victory and defeat couldn't be modelled on the basis religion and community has also been raised. Chandradatta, who migrated to Kuleni from Baglung, said, "I don't think voters vote on the basis of religion and community."

 

NC and UML main competitors

The NC has always been winning in the parliamentary elections since 1992 but this time the leader of the ruling alliance is facing a competition from the UML.

All areas of Gaindakot and Devchuli municipalities, and Bulingtar Rural Municipality, and 11 wards of the district headquarters Kawasoti Municipality are included in election constituency-1 of Nawalparasi (East of Susta). In the May 13 local level elections, heads of all the local governments except Gaindakot were won by the UML. NC was victorious in Gaidakot.

There are altogether 52 wards in this constituency. The CPN-UML has garnered 39,951 votes and won chairmen in 26 wards while the NC-led alliance received 42,471 votes to win chairmen in 26 wards – 25 by NC and one by CPN (Maoist Centre). Based on the votes received in the local bodies, Dr. Koirala is in comfortable position.

But there is a growing public complaint that Dr. Koirala has not acted according to the sentiments of the people while being a representative of the people for a long time. This could create an obstacle for him. Likewise, State Assembly candidate Mahendra Dhwoj GC's nephew, Chitra Dhwoj GC, who was a cadre of the NC previously, is independently contesting the election from the same area. Nepal Swatantra Party's candidate Rajan Gautam was CPN-MC and RPP's Dr. Bhusal was a NC cadre previously. These candidacies have also added a challenge to Koirala, who is the son of the founder of the party, B. P. Koirala. This could be a strength for him.

Meanwhile, people in the area said that UML's Poudel, who was elected to the Constituent Assembly from Nawalparasi-3, and moved to this constituency now, is less known among the voters.

Likewise, some voters and party workers did not take the alliance formed for the upcoming elections positively. The youth of Gandakot's Bote tole emphasised that a coalition that is only made for the election purpose is not good for the people and the overall politics.

"It is not good that the parties are now in their alliance to win the election. It cannot be taken positively to fight at other times and be in consensus only during elections for your own interests," Bista said, "The elected representatives of the people must protect the interest of people. Leaders shouldn't just fight for the seats."

 

Neglected road scares tourists

Narayangadh-Butwal Section of the East-West Highway is in bad condition for two years now after the contractor left the work after digging the road. As a result, people and businesses along the highway have been facing environmental, health and business hazards.

Managing Director of the Hotel The Narayani in Gaindakot, Krishna Neupane, said that the candidates in the election fray should know the problems of the people and business constraints.

The highway has scared away the customers and tourists. He wants not only the government but also the candidates contesting the HoR or PA elections to address or voice their concerns to ever increasing bank interest rates, provide project financing to businesses. "We want concessional loans as the business that was trying to revive in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic is now badly affected by the liquidity crisis and high interest rates.

Basanta Lamsal, Chief Execuitve Officer of Vijay Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited which has its head office in Gaindakot, suggested the political parties to work to improve the 'political governance' within them. "If they are serious about promoting the true sense of democracy and curbing corruption, they should be talking about improving the 'political governance'," he said.

Locals and businesspersons in Gaindakot also complained about the dillydallying in the construction of the signature bridge in the Narayani River and Kaligandaki Corridor. They also want an early solution to the management of the Bhrikuti Paper Factory. Either the government should facilitate in operating it or it should be replaced with other business projects like fun parks, they said.

Candidates for the HoR election in Constituency-1 of Nawalparasi (East of Susta)

S.N.	Name of Candidate	Political Party
1.	Krishna Prasad Poudel	CPN-UML
2.	Dr. Shashank Koirala	Nepali Congress
3.	Bhum Bahadur Rai	Janata Samajwadi Party, Nepal
4.	Dr. Mohani Lal Bhusal	Rastriya Prajatantra Party
5.	Tulasi Ram Bhusal	Hamro Nepali Party
6.	Kamal Mahato	Nagrik Unmukti Party
7.	Rukmagat Chapagain	Nepalka Lagi Nepali Party
8.	Prem Chhiri Sherpa	Mangol National Organization
9.	Tak Bahadur Thapa Magar	Rastriya Janmukti Party
10.	Rajan Gautam	Rastriya Swatantra Party
11.	Surya Prasad Sapkota	Independent
12.	Chitra Dhwoj G.C.	"
13.	Ek Nath Pokhrel	"
14.	Bindu Bhattarai	"
15.	Bishnu Bhatta	"

 Source: Election Commission Nepal

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 8 November 2022. Joint reporting with Basanta Parajuli in Chitwan.