Resolution of Tikapur incident top election issue in Kailali

From Ashok Adhikari/Prakash Bikram Shah

Kailali, Nov. 11: Whenever candidates reach the areas of Tikapur Municipality in Kailali district for their door-to-door election campaign, a majority of voters there have put forth a common demand: address the controversies related with Tikapur incident.

Ram Janam Chaudhary, common candidate of the ruling alliance representing Nepali Congress (NC) for Constituency 1 of Kailali district, was also requested the same by the locals.

“After the Tikapur incident in 2015, Kailali-1 has been going through different social problems, which is why the voters have requested the candidates to solve the controversies surrounding the incident officially as the top priority,” said Ram Janam.

Senior Superintendent of Nepal Police Laxman Neupane alongside six other policemen and a minor had died and 50 other officers were injured during a protest on August 24, 2015 in Tikapur.

Since then, all other political and developmental agendas have not received due attention in the constituency. During the 2017 elections, Resham Lal Chaudhary, a leader of the protest, was elected to the House of Representatives from the constituency.

Resham Lal, deemed the major individual behind Tikapur incident, won the election by staying at large and completed his term of lawmaker behind bars. His wife Ranjita Shrestha Chaudhary, chairperson of Nagarik Unmukti Party, has announced her candidacy from the constituency and has pledged to solve the issue according it the top priority. All the candidates from the area have assured to amicably solve the issue in different ways.

“A case was lodged against 58 individuals, including Resham Lal, in the incident but 31 of them are still at large. The case, which was decided by the District and High Courts already, is now at the Supreme Court. However, this incident needs a different approach,” said Ram Janam.

In search of political harmony

Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN-UML are on the same page with Tikapur incident.

Ram Janam and his opponent from CPN-UML Tapendra Bahadur Rawal said that the incident requires a solution which will not disrupt political harmony in the region. “Rather than a solution from the court, Tikapur incident should be solved politically. If I win the election and there is a majority government of the ruling alliance, I will make sure to solve the problem even if it needs amendments to the laws,” said Ram Janam.

Meanwhile, CPN-UML candidate Rawal stressed that solution to Tikapur incident should feature prominently in the concerns of the candidates elected from the constituency regardless of the party they represent.

“If I win, this will be my priority as well,” said Rawal.

Ruling alliance’s candidate for the Provincial Assembly from Kailali-1 (A) Dirgharaj Binadi of CPN (Maoist) and Kailali-1(B) candidate Ran Bahadur Rawal of the NC have also stated the incident’s proper solution as their major agenda. While Tikapur incident remains the major priority of the parties, voters have requested the candidates to not forget development works.

The locals have demanded solutions to the damages caused by rain-induced disasters along the banks of the Karnali River. Similarly, locals have stressed construction of an airport in Tikapur, expanding Karnali Corridor, constructing bridges, blacktopping roads and proper access to health and irrigation facilities, among others.

Race between major parties

A total of 48 individuals are contesting elections in five constituencies for the House of Representatives of Kailali. Similarly, there are 78 candidates for 10 provincial constituencies of the district.

Bhagat Bahadur Badhuwal of CPN (Maoist) and UML’s Jhapat Bahadur Rawal are the major contenders in Kailali-2. Similarly, Krishna Kumar Chaudhary of CPN (Maoist) and UML’s Gauri Shankar Chaudhary alongside six others are contesting in Kailali-3.

In Kailali-4, Nepali Congress’ Bir Bahadur Balayar and UML’s Lekhraj Bhatta are contesting. Likewise, NC’s Dilliraj Panta and UML’s Naradmuni Rana are competing in Kailali-5.