Voters in Baglung Demand Accountability as Election Fever Rises

Baglung. As the date for the House of Representatives election on Falgun 21 approaches, election fervor is gradually increasing in villages and cities. Candidates are visiting voters' doorsteps carrying agendas, commitments, and manifestos for their parties and themselves.

It is not as easy for candidates and parties visiting doorsteps with their agendas as it was in previous elections. Increased voter awareness and developments in areas like social media will hold candidates and parties accountable. Voters, who have cast their ballots based on repeated assurances, appear to be thinking of voting only for candidates with reliable plans in this election.

Chunman Ghartimagar, 73, from Nisikhola Rural Municipality-6, stated that leaders who fulfill the basic needs of the people should be elected. He complained that previous leaders only gave assurances. Ghartimagar mentioned that there is still no easy access to drinking water, education, and health in his area. He added that leaders forget the promises made during elections after the polls conclude.

“We elected them repeatedly, they got positions, they provided jobs for their own people, what did they give us except disappointment? This time, I plan to vote for candidates who come with a work plan, not just commitments,” he said. “Assurances were given before, it will probably be the same now; we simple folks are always the ones suffering.”

Thamkumari Khatri from Dhorpatan Municipality-2 said she would vote for a candidate who can solve the problems of farmers. She complained that many leaders only gave false hopes during elections, as produce gets destroyed because rural roads are not operational year-round. Khatri stated that the problem of drinking water in the village has persisted for many years without a solution.

She said, “After multi-party democracy arrived, leaders have deceived us and taken our votes repeatedly; after winning the election, they never returned to the village. There are so many problems in the village, no leader has been able to solve them. The people of this area have always just been the ones giving votes.”

Nimbahadur Bika from Badigad Rural Municipality-8 said he has not yet found a leader who will bring development to remote villages. Bika expressed the need for a leader who understands the problems of the villagers and works to solve them, as citizens in the village are deprived of basic services. He noted that many remote settlements remain overlooked as most attention is focused on urban centers.

“Development has occurred in cities and towns, but in the villages, development has cheated us along with geographical remoteness. We sent many leaders to power, but they never paid attention to this area,” Bika said. “Is it our weakness as the public for not being able to choose the right leader? Initially, everyone says they will do this and that; we hope they will do it, but after the election, the leaders disappear.”