800,000 people leave Valley to exercise franchise

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Mar. 4: As the day of the House of Representatives election draws closer, the number of people returning to their home districts from the Kathmandu Valley has increased.

Large crowds of those leaving the Valley have been seen at major exit points across Kathmandu, including Koteshwor, Lokanthali, Kalanki, Balkhu and Balaju Machhapokhari. People have been travelling towards their destinations (respective constituencies) carrying heavy bags, accompanied by family members and friends.

According to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, Ramshahpath, nearly 800,000 people have left the Valley over the past two weeks.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sunil Jung Shah for the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office said the number of those leaving Kathmandu has recently surpassed those entering the city. 

“As of 6:30 pm on March 2, between 750,000 and 800,000 people exited the Valley,” he said. He added that the highest number of departures was recorded at the western checkpoint of Nagdhunga.

Meanwhile, in the last three-and-a-half days from February 29 to March 3 of the morning, more than 167,312 people have left the Valley to cast their ballots in their home constituencies. Authorities anticipate that the number could double by the evening of March 3 to 4 as the final rush of voters occurs out of the capital. 

“By Tuesday afternoon only 47,312 people had already left Kathmandu, and the number is expected to increase by this evening,” DSP Shah said.

On average, between 39,000 and 40,000 people have been leaving the Valley each day specifically to participate in voting, said DSP Shah. Traffic police expect this daily figure to rise significantly in the two days immediately preceding polling day, as last-minute travellers crowd bus parks and highways leading out of the city, believed DSP Shah. 

“This may appear to be a modest number compared to the Valley’s total population,” DSP Shah said, “but only adult voters registered in constituencies outside Kathmandu are travelling. The figure represents the actual number of those returning home solely to exercise their franchise.”

The seasonal migration highlights a long-standing electoral pattern in Nepal, where thousands of residents living in the capital for employment, education or business remain registered as voters in their districts of origin.