Jhapa Candidate Rejects Populism, Campaigns on Bicycle and Ideological Dialogue

Jhapa - As the election fervor intensifies ahead of Falgun 21, various candidates from different parties are focusing on diverse modes of election campaigning. Some are seen crushing sugarcane or cooking 'jeris' (a type of fried snack), while others are seen bowing to voters, arriving at voters' homes in expensive vehicles with entourages, or organizing rallies, all over social media.

However, the campaigning in Jhapa's Constituency No. 1 is somewhat different. The election campaign of Engineer Ashesh Ghimire, the candidate from the Communist Party of Nepal in Jhapa-1, stands apart from other candidates. At times he reaches voters' homes on a bicycle or in a tempo, and at other times he engages in ideological discussions with elderly voters at street corners.

When asked by Ratopati why he is engaging in his election campaign in such a manner, detached from widespread social media promotion and large crowds of supporters, he replied, 'People are tired of unnecessary crowds, the arrogance of money, and displays of power. Therefore, somewhere in the country, there must be a candidate who raises ideological issues with modesty.'

Ghimire, born into an ordinary teacher's family in Bahundangi, passed his SLC from a local school and went to Biratnagar for higher education after SLC. Biratnagar inspired him to step onto the political field from the classroom. He had felt the gap between the affluent and the needy in his own village. However, ANISU (All Nepal National Free Students Union) provided him with a political ideological perspective on this.

He leaned towards leftist politics, meaning he began to stand for the rights of the working class and speak on their behalf. Then, during his student life, he ran a campaign against the addiction of youth to substance abuse. Over time, this focused on the issues of unemployment, laborers, and farmers. Ultimately, he began to give paramount importance to the issues and concerns of the deprived.

When asked why he chose leftist politics, and whether he shouldn't have joined Nepal's democratic movement while in Biratnagar, Ghimire said, 'I don't know why, but the story of the labor movement in Biratnagar has always stirred me. It has always inspired me to stand in favor of laborers, the working class, and the marginalized.'

Engineer Ghimire, who is continuously on the doorsteps of the people with the goal of becoming a Member of Parliament from Jhapa-1, bases his campaign on a leftist perspective. During his meetings, he is often found modestly discussing with voters why populism is not appropriate for them.

'Even amidst despair and hopelessness, we must not stop lighting the lamp of hope,' he was telling voters gathered in Ward No. 14 of Mechinagar.

In the 079 election from Jhapa-1, the then General Secretary and current Vice-Chairman of the Nepali Congress, Bishwa Prakash Sharma, was elected. Since Sharma is not a candidate this time, the Congress has nominated Keshav Raj Pandey in Sharma's place. Similarly, Ramchandra Uprety from CPN (UML), Nisha Dangi from Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Hemraj Karki from RPP, and Kevalram Rai from the Shram Sanskriti Party are candidates.

Ghimire was previously an elected Politburo member of the CPN (Unified Socialist). He is currently a candidate representing the Communist Party of Nepal, formed by the merger between the Unified Socialist and the CPN (Maoist Centre).

Rajesh Guragai, a local youth from Jhapa Constituency No. 1, Mechinagar, who has closely observed his election campaign, said, 'I am very happy to see him engaged in the election campaign in such a modest manner. It would be great if all political parties moved forward by presenting their political issues and agendas rather than unnecessarily influencing voters.'

Another businessman stated that all political parties should learn from the style of his election campaigning.