Local manifestoes for Jhapa-5 pledge development

From Prakriti Adhikari/Bishnu Prasad Pokhrel

Damak, Nov. 9: Jhapa Constituency-5, which consists of Damak Municipality, saw unexpected developments in the past five years. 

The construction of Ratuwa Bridge connecting Damak and Ilam’s Chulachuli and Mawa Bridge connecting Madhumalla and Damak in the past five years have eased transportation for thousands. The biggest meeting hall of Province 1 has also been constructed in Damak.

Similarly, an 18-storey business tower and Beldangi-Madhumalla road are under construction, while Padajungi-Gauriganj road is being expanded.

Meanwhile, the manifestos published by major contenders for House of Representatives from the constituency shows that the area will see more progress in the next five years.

The major contenders from the constituency are from CPN-UML and Nepali Congress (NC). CPN-UML chairman and former prime minister KP Sharma Oli is contesting with Dr. Khagendra Pandav Adhikari from NC.

Oli has support from Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) while Adhikari is supported by the five-party alliance including CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN (Unified Socialist). Oli had won the 2017 election with 57,139 votes against Adhikari, who received 28,297 votes.

CPN (Maoist Centre) had supported Oli in the previous election but changed the sides this election. 

The 41-point local manifesto issued by the coalition states that they will be constructing an indigenous stadium of international standard, blacktop Damak-Rabi Road (Phalgunanda Marga) and an build an industrial estate in the constituency within the next five years.

Similarly, NC manifesto has also expressed assurances to upgrade several villages into smart cities alongside construction of several parks for elderly and children and provincial-level cold store and processing centre.

Meanwhile, CPN-UML’s assurances for the constituency also include construction of stadium in Kamal Rural Municipality, multi-storey bus park in Damak and a view tower. The party has also stated to upgrade Gauriganj Bazaar alongside constructing public toilets, roads and bridges in necessary places. 

The common assurances in the local manifestos of NC and CPN-UML include construction of Madan Bhandari Stadium in Damak and a Buddha Park. Both sides have also stressed to develop the area into a major tourism destination.

Construction of the Buddha Park with world’s biggest Buddha statue was an assurance made by Oli in the previous elections. Its construction wasn’t started in the past five years but it has been an agenda for the opposition this year as well.

In the recently held local elections, Nepali Congress candidate was elected the mayor and CPN (Maoist Centre) candidate the deputy mayor of Damak Municipality.

CPN-UML has been claiming the win on the basis of previous election results while the NC has shown positivity towards the win as they have support from four other parties.

While the result is uncertain, locals of Jhapa-5 stressed that the constituency would see more development if either of the major contenders won the election since their manifestos were promising enough.