Electoral Buzz Rises in Baglung's Urban Areas Ahead of By-election, Rural Areas Lag Behind

Baglung. As the House of Representatives election scheduled for Falgun 21 approaches, electoral fervor is increasing in the urban areas of Baglung. Discussions about the election are taking place from tea stalls to neighborhoods. However, the festive mood of the election has not yet reached the rural areas.

Farmers working in the village fields are busy with their own work. Although leaders occasionally visit to ask for votes, the hustle and bustle is minimal.

The approaching election has made the youth somewhat excited, but the elderly are not as enthusiastic. Elderly citizens who have easy access to social media and communication channels are aware of the upcoming election, but the elderly in the villages do not even know the date of the election. As leaders and cadres concentrate on the city centers, many older voters remain unaware of the election.

Baglung Constituency No. 2 remains underdeveloped in terms of progress. Geographically, Dhorpatan Municipality, Taman Khola Rural Municipality, and Nisi Khola are somewhat remote. Snow still covers the upper regions, making the cold intense. Voters here are busy with daily chores like farming and laboring. Bhaktaram Adai, 77, from Dhorpatan Municipality-6, shared that although he heard the election was scheduled for Falgun due to the 'Jyanji' movement, the exact date was unknown.

Adai, who spends his day looking after livestock, mentioned that he knew the regular 084 election was being held in Falgun due to the Jyanji movement, but he couldn't recall the exact date. Having trusted the same old parties for a long time, he made it clear that he was not in favor of changing his vote this time.

Adai said, 'I heard the election is in Falgun, but what date is it? I will definitely cast my vote. We have been affiliated with the same party since we were young. Why would I vote for another party when I am about to die?'

He recounted that many leaders came seeking votes during the 079 election. 'It wouldn't be right to tell those who come asking for votes to go away. How many people can one vote be given to?' he said, 'My hands tremble if I leave the party I have believed in and vote for someone else.'

Kul Gharti, 85, from Galakot Municipality-10, shared that he has voted in every election. He mentioned that most of the leaders he voted for won, but they failed to bring about the development he expected. Gharti states that while roads, drinking water, electricity, and basic health facilities have been established in the village, quality service delivery is lacking.

'It's not that there has been no development; the situation 10-12 years ago was very difficult. The leaders we elected provided basic services, but they haven't done much to improve the roads or education here,' Gharti said, 'There is hope that the incoming leaders will do something. New parties have also emerged now. I don't have much faith in them, but their work remains to be seen.'

Lalbhadur Sapkota, 84, from Karkhoka Rural Municipality-5, shared that he has been participating in elections since the Panchayat era. He believes that the country has developed significantly since the 2062/063 movement. He stated that the old parties struggled for a long time to put the country on the path of development and that now is not the time to seek alternatives.

He expressed regret over the Jyanji movement. He suggests that current leaders need to change according to the time and circumstances to work effectively.

'In our time, we couldn't openly engage in politics. We had to build organizations in secret. Now it is easier to do politics. If they work, the people will praise them. If they don't, they will be punished through votes,' Sapkota said, 'Roads were built, bridges were built. Big buildings were constructed. Electricity reached the villages. This is development. In our time, we had to walk for eight to ten days to Butwal to bring back salt. Now everything comes to our doorstep. Now the leaders must reform. The country will progress.'

Parbati Sapkota, 67, from Baglung Municipality-4, complains that leaders who come with folded hands asking for votes before the election do not return after winning. She laments that her demand for resolving the major issues of drinking water and irrigation in Kundule has not been addressed by anyone for 20 years.

She mentioned that hope in the old parties is starting to fade. She intends to vote for a candidate who understands the problems of the village.

Sapkota said, 'We voted for all the old parties in turn, but none of them listened to or understood our problems. Still, they come asking for votes again. New parties have also emerged now. There is a thought of giving them a chance once. There is also a feeling that it might be a sin to leave the old parties.'

She shared that she will make her decision based on the situation until the day of voting. However, she expressed dissatisfaction that the leaders elected in previous terms did not understand their problems.