Celebrities say local leaders should work for development

Kathmandu, May 14: Celebrities of the entertainment industry participated in the local level elections on Friday.

Like other voters, they voted for their favourite candidates. While senior actor Madan Das Shrestha is contesting election for the post of mayor in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, other cast their votes for the candidates of their choice with enthusiasm. 

Actress Karisma Manandhar cast her vote at Kathmandu Metropolitan City -3, Lazimpat. Although she lives in Godawari of Lalitpur district, her name was listed in Lazimpat.

“Local level election means voting for the representative of your choice and I also voted for the representative of my choice. Local level leaders have to work directly with the people and this time local level leaders are very conscious and I believe they will do a good job,” she said. 

Actor Rajesh Hamal cast his vote from the polling centre of Kanya High School in Lainchaur, Kathmandu. 

He said he was very excited about the local level elections and that it was right time for the people to use their vote to select suitable candidates in the local level.

He also urged the people to be careful whether the local representatives do the right thing. Asked how he views the local level in the three-tier government, Hamal said the role of local level representatives are very important because they have the responsibility to work directly with the local people.

When asked whether he was preparing to contest next local level elections, he hinted at his possibility of joining politics. When asked about the increasing attraction of artistes towards politics, he said that people who are involved in politics are all citizens and everyone has the right to enter politics. 

Likewise, actor Deepak Raj Giri reached Dahchok in Chandragiri Municipality-1 to cast his vote. 

Giri said that the local people’s representatives should work for the development of the local level. “In particular, local leaders should work for the development of local tourism for which they can build parks or structures or work to attract tourists,” he said.

Actor Bipin Karki cast his vote from Purbanchal University booth of Biratnagar Metropolitan City-3. 

He reached Biratnagar from Kathmandu only on Thursday to cast his vote. He said he secretly voted for good candidates. 

“I have no faith in any political party. We should vote for a better person than candidate of any particular party because I think politics is a dirty game. I will never get involved in politics. I am an artiste and will continue to be so,” Karki said. 

The elected local leaders have to carry out development works like construction of footpaths, construction of elderly, child and disabled friendly parks, create employment opportunity to the locals, improve health, education and looks of the cities, said Karki.