Voters in Parsa District Express Disillusionment, Vow to Bring 'Revolution' at Ballot Box Ahead of Elections

Birgunj. As the date for the House of Representatives elections draws nearer, candidates are visiting neighborhoods to interact with voters. While candidates are engaged in election-focused campaigns, voters are also assessing various political developments and becoming clearer about their opinions and the role they must play.

Voters in Parsa Constituency No. 2, under the House of Representatives election, assert that the country's power structure changed due to the 'Janjati' (People's) movement, and now they will bring a revolution through the ballot box. They state that elected representatives so far have only offered assurances and nothing more.

They view the 'Janjati' movement that took place on Bhadra 23 and 24 as a consequence of the continuous public anger stemming from the failure of any government to seriously address issues like drinking water, sufficient fertilizer for agriculture, roads/drains, employment opportunities, and quality education.

Arunlal Das, from Birgunj-10, an urban area within Parsa Constituency No. 2, stated that voters consider voting their biggest and most crucial right. He mentioned that he feels the need to think very carefully when exercising this right. He said, "Votes were cast impulsively before," adding, "It seems that won't work anymore. One must vote only after understanding who will honor their vote and address the people's problems."

According to Das, all political parties have been preoccupied with their own interests, causing the issues of the nation and the people to be sidelined. "No work that the public can feel has been done in my constituency," he said. "Those who win elections don't even show their faces. What is the use of voting for such people?"

Das states that they will no longer support leaders who get elected by giving various assurances and deceiving the public, only to disappear afterward. He mentioned that in this election, they will support leaders who can advance the country, understand the public's sentiment, and restart stalled factories. "Corruption has equally increased in government offices. No leader speaks up for the public," he said.

Jaleshwar Sarraf, a resident of Birgunj Metropolitan City Ward No. 26, stated that the country is seeking change through the election. According to him, the time has come for the public to decide through the election who can be the harbinger of change and who can bring about that change.

Sarraf said, "Regarding Parsa Constituency No. 2, hardly any development work has taken place here. The previously elected representatives did not seem to pay much attention to the development of the area. What did they accomplish while holding office after being popularly elected? We will vote only after understanding all these things."

He pointed out that much work remains to be done in the sectors of poverty, unemployment, education, and health. "Forget about employment; what have they done in education and health? Nothing," he said. "Therefore, I won't say anything about those who do incomplete work, but I will say this much: the people will elect whoever can champion the people's issues and lead the change."

Jadolal Chaurasiya, a resident of Jagannathpur, stated that leaders come to every house during election time to ask for votes, but after being elected, the public has to search for them without success. "This cannot continue. The country and the people want change," he said. "This election will become the revolution that brings that change."

Chaurasiya said, "We are thinking of supporting the younger generation who will arrange fertilizer for the people, build roads and bridges, and always remain among the people."

Janak Raut Ahir, an elderly citizen residing in Alau, stated that the public will vote wisely in this election. "In previous elections, we looked for old parties, considering them parties that struggled and sacrificed for democracy," he said. "The leaders of the old parties took advantage of the public's goodwill. Now is the time for the people to show their strength."

He clarified that there is no point in electing those who have no concept of respecting the public's feelings after becoming their representatives, given the prevalent culture of having to pay bribes to get work done in government offices or having pleas regarding water/drainage issues go unheard. He asserted, "In this election, the people will bring a great revolution through the ballot box."

Dashai Das, a resident of Bahudarmai Municipality-1, stated that the public will teach a lesson to leaders who come home to seek votes during elections and then get engrossed in power games after winning. He said, "Whenever elections come, leaders come to every house asking for votes. Then they disappear for five years. Therefore, the public has also thought about such leaders now." He added that expected development has not taken place in this constituency so far. "

In Parsa Constituency No. 2, 32 candidates, including those from various parties and independents, have registered their candidacies. Candidates in this constituency include Rima Kumari Yadav from CPN-UML, Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya from Nepali Congress, Sushil Kumar Kanu from Rastriya Swatantra Party, Manoj Kumar Chaudhary from Communist Party of Nepal, Bina Jaiswal from Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Ashok Kumar Agrawal from JSP Nepal, Ashok Kumar Gupta from Janmat Party, and Amitabh Bachchan Das Tatma from Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party.

This constituency has 95,120 voters. It comprises 26 wards, including parts of Bahudarmai and Parsagadhi Municipalities, as well as wards from Birgunj Metropolitan City. Former Minister Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya was elected from this constituency previously.