HoR elections: Parties striving to woo young voters

Kanchanpur, Feb 1: Political parties in Kanchanpur have expanded their organizational presence and campaign to the ward level for the upcoming election to the House of Representatives. 

Competition among parties is intensifying, targeting young voters in the lead up to the March 5 elections. The election atmosphere has become more enthusiastic with the major parties establishing liaison offices, appointing ward coordinators and intensifying door-to-door campaigns.

Major parties including the Nepali Congress, CPN (UML), Nepali Communist Party (NCP), Rastriya Swatantra Party and others have intensified their campaign by opening liaison offices in all 92 wards of nine local levels under the three constituencies.

According to Karan Singh Ayer, President of Nepali Congress Constituency No. 2 (2), the campaign has been taken forward by inaugurating campaign offices at the ward level in all three constituencies. 

Gopi Prasad Upadhyay is the candidate for Constituency No. 1, former Minister NP Saud is the candidate for Constituency No. 2, and Hari Prasad Bohara is the candidate for Constituency No. 3.

The Nepali Communist Party (NCP) has also intensified its campaign by establishing a ward-level mechanism and publicity office, said Mahesh Dutt Joshi, coordinator of the publicity subcommittee. Former Minister Bina Magar is the candidate for Constituency No. 1, Madhav Prasad Pant is the candidate for Constituency No. 2, and Man Bahadur Sunar is the candidate for Constituency No. 3.

Similarly, the CPN (UML) has also expanded the formation of an election mechanism up to the ward level and has taken the campaign forward. According to UML district member Jagat Bahadur Singh, cadres have been mobilized with responsibility to ensure win for the party candidates. Tara Lama Tamang is the candidate for Constituency No. 1, Bachan Bahadur Singh is the candidate for Constituency No. 2, and Dr. Deepak Prakash Bhatta is the candidate for Constituency No. 3.

Meanwhile, the newly emerged political force, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), is likely to give a tough competition to the traditional forces in all three constituencies. The RSP has intensified its campaign by organizing youth and continuing its door-to-door campaign with candidates. Janak Singh Dhami is the candidate in Constituency No. 1, Deepak Raj Bohara in Constituency No. 2, and Gyanendra Singh Mahata in Constituency No. 3.

Similarly, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) is presenting its election agenda through group interactions and discussions with voters in the wards. Other political parties and independent candidates have also taken up door-to-door campaigns.

During this election, the main focus of all political parties is on young voters. The candidates are trying to attract the youth by presenting an agenda of solving unemployment, ensuring quality education, and information technology-based development. “The youth want change, so our priority is focused on plans related to their future,” said Madhav Prasad Pant, a candidate from NCP Constituency No. 2. “Since we are also young, we are moving forward with the demands of the youth at the forefront.”

As the election fever increases, debates about the personality and agenda of the candidates have begun in the nooks and squares of Kanchanpur. Local voters say that the liaison offices established at the ward level have created an environment for voters to communicate directly with the candidates. 

A total of 55 candidates are in the fray for the election of members of the House of Representatives in all three constituencies of the district. Of these, 44 are from different political parties and 11 are independent candidates.  (RSS)