Gupta's campaign rings loud in Saptari

BY BINAY KARNA,Kalyanpur (Saptari), Feb. 14: With the House of Representatives election approaching, candidates across the country have intensified their door-to-door outreach. Although the Election Code of Conduct permits formal campaigning only from February 16 onwards, many candidates have already begun wooing voters by visiting them.

Compared to previous elections, this year’s campaign trail has witnessed innovative and unconventional approaches as candidates strive to connect with voters. While most candidates are busy visiting homes, shops, farms, weddings, and even religious ceremonies to win favour, one candidate in Saptari has adopted a distinctly different style.

Indra Sagar Gupta, a candidate from Nepal for Nepali Party in Constituency No. 2 of Saptari, has drawn attention for his unusual method of campaigning. The 47-year-old resident of Ward No. 5, Rajbiraj Municipality, begins his day early by visiting voters’ homes carrying his party’s election symbol and a conch shell.

Blowing the conch shell outside each house, Gupta calls voters out and requests their support. However, his appeal goes beyond seeking votes. He also asks for small donations, Rs. 5 or Rs. 10 in cash and a handful of rice from each household.

According to Gupta, the collected cash and rice are distributed to the underprivileged and to saints and sages. He said he sought their blessings for electoral victory through this act of charity.

Gupta claimed that this distinctive approach had not only helped him campaign effectively but also created a positive atmosphere in his favour. So far, he has collected Rs. 2,050 in cash and 56 kilograms of rice, all of which he said had been distributed to needy communities and religious figures.

As part of his party’s manifesto, Gupta has pledged to provide up to 100 units of free electricity per household, introduce Gurukul-style education and cowsheds in every school, and arrange a free annual pilgrimage for senior citizens.

In Saptari-2, there is a total of 105,922 voters, where 34 candidates from various political parties and independent backgrounds are contesting in the upcoming election.