Provincial Lawmaker Resigns to Contest Federal Election in Banke-1

Butwal. Krishna (Namuna) KC, a resident of Dhakeri, Rapti Sonari-9, Banke district, has resigned from her post as a Lumbini Provincial Assembly member to contest the House of Representatives election scheduled for the upcoming Falgun 21.

Krishna, who was elected twice consecutively as a Provincial Assembly member, resigned with two years of her term still remaining to contest for the House of Representatives seat from Banke Constituency No. 1. She has been nominated by the Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party for Banke-1.

There are 14 candidates, including Krishna KC, in Constituency No. 1. This constituency encompasses all wards under Kohalpur Municipality, Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality, and Narainapur Rural Municipality. The total number of voters in this constituency is 124,727.

Along with KC, who is a candidate from the Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party, the candidates in this constituency include Surya Dhakal of CPN-UML, Narayan Prasad Gaudel of Nepali Congress, Suresh Kumar Chaudhary of Rastriya Swatantra Party, and Narendra Pandey of the Communist Party of Nepal.

Tejendra KC of RatoPati spoke with Krishna KC focusing on her resignation from the Provincial Assembly, her candidacy for the House of Representatives membership, and her election agenda. Presented below is the edited excerpt of the conversation with her:

Why did you contest for the House of Representatives membership, resigning from the Provincial Assembly when you still had 2 years of tenure remaining?

Yes, I still had 2 years of tenure remaining in the Provincial Assembly, but I left the Provincial Assembly to contest for the House of Representatives membership. I won twice consecutively in the Provincial Assembly and also served as a provincial minister once. However, the House of Representatives is a more appropriate and larger platform to raise farmers' issues securely in the house, address women's issues, youth issues, and work towards making the country more economically capable. Therefore, I resigned from the Provincial Assembly membership to broaden my scope and have entered the field for the House of Representatives election.

I learned many things from my two terms of experience in the Provincial Assembly. Some work remains incomplete. I have contested for the House of Representatives membership to complete those tasks and bring institutional reforms.

Wasn't this politically a bit risky?

In politics, many such risks are taken, and many hopeful actions for the future are undertaken. Therefore, the House of Representatives is the more suitable place for me right now than the Provincial Assembly.

On the other hand, looking at the national situation, small or large parties have given less priority to female candidates in the first-past-the-post electoral system. Although this decision I have made for the opportunity to go to the House of Representatives representing women may seem risky in the immediate term, I believe it will be the right decision in the future.

What is your main agenda?

Although Kohalpur Municipality is included in my constituency, Rapti Sonari and Narainapur Rural Municipalities are lagging areas. These areas have always been overlooked. People are even dying due to wildlife here. Along with physical development, issues of health, education, and youth must be raised in the house. Citizens here know that I have previously initiated efforts for irrigation, farmers' fertilizer problems, and development works in the Provincial Assembly.

Having served two terms in the Provincial Assembly, I have understood the problems and issues of the people here. Resolving those problems is my main agenda.

There are more than a dozen candidates in Banke Constituency No. 1. On what basis do you differentiate yourself from the others?

I am confident that I have presented a clear development model in my constituency. Secondly, I have a clear vision and experience in implementing development plans. I have been continuously working towards that.

When I was in the Provincial Assembly, agricultural equipment was distributed, and agricultural and livestock pocket areas were declared. Irrigation systems were established. Canals were built where possible, and where canals were not feasible, deep tube wells and shallow tube wells were used to irrigate the land. I have contributed in all sectors including women, Janajati, squatters, former Kamaiyas, cooperatives, education, and physical infrastructure. I am committed to the people. I am a person who works whether in power or not. I did it yesterday, I am doing it today, and there is no doubt I will do it tomorrow.

Especially looking at women's issues, the rights, participation, and justice related to women have not yet been adequately addressed. Therefore, after entering the house, my plan is to pay special attention to issues related to women's rights and justice. I will press for the implementation of laws against discrimination and violence against women. Furthermore, there is a need to bring concrete programs to increase women's economic and political participation.

What will be your development model in your constituency?

Development must show results, not just remain limited to speeches. It will be a comprehensive development model linking infrastructure with education, health, agriculture, and employment. In my constituency, I plan to build a college for degree-level studies, a science research center, and a cricket stadium connected to sports. Environment will be created to implement special employment programs for the youth.

I will focus on resolving the existing shortages in irrigation and drinking water that I observed during my two terms in the Provincial Assembly.

What would you like to say to your voters?

The people of Banke voted for me twice in the Provincial Assembly. By reaching the House of Representatives, I can play an even stronger role for the people here. Therefore, I urge you to choose the option of showing results through work, not just talking. Leadership that delivers results, not criticism, is necessary. I seek to go to the House of Representatives embracing the dreams and expectations of the villages, farmers, laborers, women, youth, and marginalized communities not only in my constituency but across Banke district, the province, and the nation. My main focus in the house will always be on education, health, employment, equality, and social justice.