Candidates' pledge: From free septic tank cleaning to tax waiver

Bhairahawa, May 4: Candidates from different political parties in Siddharthnagar Municipality, Bhairahawa, have brought agendas ranging from cleaning septic tanks to tax exemptions to attract voters.

Candidates are competing to present the agenda in the upcoming election to be held on May 13. They are also active in meetings to create an attractive agenda.

A total of 15 candidates have registered their candidacies in the municipality. Most of them made big declarations and promises such as providing free education, health, agriculture, sanitation and drinking water. But no one seems to have a concrete plan for how to do it.

On behalf of the CPN-UML, Dr. Ram Prasad Basyal, a leading candidate for the main post, said that he had delivered the party's manifesto to the home of every city dweller. He said that the Siddharthnagar Municipality has made great strides already and if he wins, he will continue it. 

Leading candidate from the CPN (Unified Socialist) Thaman Pun (Kulendra) said that health was his priority. He said that 5,000 litres of drinking water would be provided free of cost along with health. Similarly, a youth labour organisation will be formed to get information about the condition of the youth in the city, he said.

Stating that sports and players will be addressed, he said that his salary will be spent on the service of single women and the very poor.

Rastriya Prajatandra Party's leading candidate Sagar Pratap Rana expressed his commitment to building the city as per the suggestions of the experts in the city if he wins. 

He argues that despite the ADB's significant contribution to the city's development, it has not solved the city's overall problems. He said that he would take initiative for proper management of drainage as the town is now inundated due to the wrong design.

Rana accused the municipality of levying heavy taxes and said that he has plans to reduce taxes by up to 50 per cent if he wins as a mayor in the local elections. Rana also said that he has an agenda to cut a 12 per cent tax for women entrepreneurs. Nepali Congress candidate for the top post Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan said that he has given his candidature to make the dream of the city dwellers come true.

He said that he was involved in the campaign to make Bhairahawa a green and clean city, adding that there was a plan to build a botanical garden there.  

Khan said that the roads in Bhairahawa would be made "street human" free, adding that there was a plan to make Bhairahawa plastic-free by seeking long-term measures for waste management.

Democratic Socialist Party candidate Mohammad Wasir Musalman said the youth had never had a chance in the development of the town. 

He said that food would be provided to 15 per cent poor people of Bhairahawa for only five rupees.

Matrika Prasad Yadav, a leading candidate from Janata Samajbadi Party, said that parallel development in all wards was his main agenda.

Rastriya Janamukti Party candidate Hasan Raja said that he has a 40-point declaration, including food, shelter, clothes and health education, for the development of the city. 

He said that if he wins the mayorship of the city, there is a plan to clean the safety tanks of the city free of cost. 

He also plans to implement a mayor housing scheme in all 13 wards and provide tax exemption of up to 50 per cent.