Top leaders in Tarai tour

By Janarjan Khatri,Sarlahi, Jan. 27: Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa has highlighted the profound contribution the Madhes region has made to every major political movement in the country. Addressing party members at Dhankaul Bazaar in Sarlahi-4 on Monday, Thapa remarked that he holds a deep appreciation for the role Madhes has played in shaping the Nepali Congress, democracy, and the nation as a whole. He noted that while his upbringing allowed him to understand the hills and Kathmandu, he chose to represent Madhes through the election to truly comprehend the region’s unique character.

Thapa asserted that one cannot truly be a Nepali without integrating the identity of Madhes into oneself. He recalled how his ambition to represent the region grew whilst travelling along the East-West Postal Highway, a goal that has finally come to fruition. 

Expressing his pride in being part of a region that has sacrificed so much for Nepal’s democratic movements, he admitted that while he has often questioned the lack of equal dignity afforded to Madhes, he is now in a position to address those disparities directly. He also voiced his concern regarding the decline of the local education system, reminiscing about a time when Madhesi teachers were essential for teaching mathematics and science in the hills.

To address these systemic issues, Thapa announced that a dedicated team has been mobilised to study the challenges facing education, agriculture, and health in Sarlahi Constituency No. 4. He committed to serving as their representative for the next five years to implement solutions based on the team's findings.

 Explaining his move from Kathmandu-4, where he was elected three times, Thapa shared that his departure was an emotional one for his former constituents, but he felt a calling to bring about change in Madhes. 

To ensure constant accessibility, Thapa plans to establish permanent offices in both Sarlahi-4 and Kathmandu, allowing him to support his constituents through times of both joy and hardship. 

He highlighted that he views himself as a servant of the people rather than just a Member of Parliament. In a bid for authentic connection, he declined to use pre-rehearsed Maithili phrases to impress the crowd, stating instead that he intends to truly learn the language and way of life by integrating with the local community over time.

This visit marks Thapa’s first trip to Madhes Province since his elections as NC President during the second Special General Convention. Following a warm welcome from party cadres across Bara, Rautahat, and Sarlahi after landing at Simara Airport, he began his journey with a visit to the Mukteshwor Babadham Temple. Thapa intends to spend four days in the constituency before continuing his national election tour, eventually returning to Sarlahi for door-to-door campaign.