Acharya, Nembang outline competing visions for Ilam-2

By Our Correspondent,Ilam, Feb. 28: As the election date approaches, candidates in Ilam are actively reaching out to voters at their doorsteps. While they are presenting their manifestos to the electorate, many candidates seem uncertain about how effectively their commitments will resonate with voters.

Ilam has two constituencies, and predicting the winner this time is difficult. However, what stands out is how candidates have incorporated local issues into their election manifestos.

In Ilam-2, Bheshraj Acharya of the Nepali Congress and Suhang Nembang of the CPN-UML are popular among  people of all ages. While Acharya has been the main NC leader to build party organisation in the constituency for the past two decades, Suhang is the youngest son of late Subas Nembang, who had been elected from the constituency in five consecutive polls held after 1999. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2024 by-election held after the demise of his father. 

Both popular leaders have made public their local manifestos to woo the voters.  

 Nembang has included the global marketing of locally produced goods, such as tea, chhurpi, and cardamom in his local manifesto

Having completed a 16-month tenure in the parliament following the 2024 by-election, Nembang’s agenda, focusing on agriculture, tourism, and the revival of disaster-hit Ilam, seems relevant to many voters.

His manifesto also specifically mentions rural roads, including the Mechi Highway, as well as drinking water, irrigation, education, and health services.

Ganga Biswokarma, a voter from Sumbek in Ilam-2, who approached Nembang seeking support to treat her hand injury, said she hopes that Nembang will do something for the poor and disadvantaged.

“We voted for him in the by-election and secured his victory, but he did not have enough time to work,” she said.

“We don’t want mere assurances; instead, we need reliable roads connecting villages to towns, markets for agricultural products, and fair prices,” she added.

Acharya has pledged to reconstruct and sustainably manage the Mechi Highway, promote tourism and agro-tourism, assess wildlife-related damage with the introduction of alternative farming options, ensure equal wages for tea estate workers, establish a health sciences academy in Ilam, and find long-term solutions for landless and squatter communities.

However, rural roads in the district are not a priority for Acharya.

Tulsi Gautam, a local social worker from Ilam 11, said Acharya is the most competent candidate in the constituency. According to Gautam, the party leadership in the centre did injustice to Acharya by not giving him ticket in 2022 election and in 2024 snap polls, and this time the leadership has recognised his capacity.

Apart from the major parties, CPN-UML and Nepali Congress, other new and established parties have also unveiled their pledges in the constituency.

Dibas Rai of the newly formed Ujyalo Nepal Party has highlighted dust- and mud-free rural roads, respect for senior citizens, opportunities for youth and students within the country, animal rights and protection, and public service at doorsteps.

Similarly, Om Bahadur Gurung, candidate of the Nepali Communist Party, has prioritised farmers and agriculture in his manifesto, mentioning seed subsidies, branding and marketing of agricultural products, cooperative collaboration, and the launch of a new chapter of social justice through dialogue.

Likewise, the parties that emerged following the 2024 by-election in Ilam-2, including the Rastriya Swatantra Party, the Shram Sanskriti Party that arose after the Gen-Z movement, the Rastriya Parivartan Party, Mangol National Organisations, and Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Manch, are also conducting voter outreach programmes across the district.