NC, UML in fierce race in Ilam

from PRAKRITI ADHIKARI

Ilam, Nov. 7: Elections have gripped all the villages in Ilam where two high profile leaders are contesting the elections to the House of Representatives.

According to voters, there will be a fierce competition between the candidates from the parties of the ruling alliance and CPN-UML for all six seats in Ilam. 

Former Prime Minister and senior leader of the CPN (Unified Socialist)  Jhal Nath Khanal is contesting the election to the House of Representatives from  Ilam Constituency-1 as a common candidate of the ruling alliance, while Constituent Assembly chairman and UML vice chair Subas Nembang is contesting for the HoR from Ilam-2.

Khanal had won the same constituency in 1991, 1994, 2008, 2013 and 2017 while Nembang was elected in 1999, 2008, 2013 and 2017 from Ilam-2.

However, voters in both constituencies are not happy with the performances of the two and others who were elected from Ilam in the past. 

This time, the voters of Ilam are found saying that they should elect ‘better candidate than personal candidate’.

Gambhir Rai of Barbote of Suryodaya Municipality-9 complained that he got several assurances from all the candidates in the previous elections.

“After the elections, none of the leaders even set foot in our village. Before the earlier elections, winning candidates said that agricultural products will be marketed and there will be free education till class 12,” said Rai.

“However, I am paying my children’s school fees. Since there is no market, I have been selling 40 kilograms of Chayote, locally called Ishkus, for Rs. 150. They have been showing us same dreams for the past 30 years,” Rai added.

Meanwhile,  leader  Khanal, who is contesting the election to the House of Representatives from  Ilam-1, said that the inability to fulfill his earlier promises was due to lack of budget provided by the Oli-led government. 

“All the incomplete works would be completed in the next five years,” he said.

Mahesh Basnet, CPN-UML candidate in Ilam Constituency-1, said that there was no development as expected by the voters in the area because the leaders did not prioritise the place after winning.

“My candidacy is for the change in the economic, social, educational and political leadership,” Basnet, former Mayor of Ilam Municipality, added.

Altogether 10 candidates, including Khanal and Basnet, are contesting election to the HoR seat from Ilam-1. Bikram Pandey, Nima Tenze Sherpa, Toya Nath Sapkota, Netra Regmi, Kamal Chamling, Padam Bahadur Limbu, Ganesh Paudel and Buddha Lal Meche are other candidates.

Likewise, Province Tourism Minister Khinu Lingwa of CPN (Unified Socialist) and CPN-UML’s Shova Parajuli are vying for the Provincial Assembly seat from Ilam- (A). Similarly, in Constituency 1 (B), common candidate from the ruling alliance Samsher Rai of NC and CPN-UML’s Dipak Thebe are in fray.

Ganga Maya Chettri of Gorkhe said that the leader had fooled them. “They should not lie to win the election and should complete their commitment”, she said.

Youth who are going to cast vote for the first time are excited at the moment. They have not yet decided whom to vote for, but they said that they are studying the manifestos of the parties.

Narendra Chhetri, a student of Suryodaya, said that it was natural for the voters to make demands.

Similarly, Nembang, who is contesting election from CPN-UML in Ilam Constituency-2, said that the people saw his constituency as underdeveloped as Karnali. He said that his candidacy was to complete the unfinished works of development. 

Meanwhile, NC’s Dambar Bahadur Khadka, ruling alliance candidate from Ilam-2, argued that his candidacy was to complete the development work mentioned in his manifesto.

Rastriya Janamukti Party’s Khadga Bahadur Palungwa, Rastriya Prajatantra Party’s Ganesh Prasad Dulal, NC (BP)’s Dak Prasad Gautam, Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Manch’s Govinda Singh Limbu, Samajik Loktantrik Party’s Tilak Bahadur Magar, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party’s Nirmani Mangmu Limbu, Prakash Sapkota, Mani Kumar Limbu, Yak Bhadur Limbu, Yam Prasad Limbu, Junu Makhim and Dipesh Bohara are competing for the HoR seat from Ilam-2.

Likewise, Govinda Giri of NC and CPN-UML’s Ganesh Prasad Baral are competing against each other for provincial assembly from Ilam-2 (A). Baral is former district coordination committee chair.  Similarly, in 2 (B) CPN (Maoist Centre)’s Harka Bahadur Lawati ‘Kancha’ from the ruling alliance and CPN-UML’s Ram Bahadur Rana are in fray.