Jhapa-5: A Battleground Where PM Aspirants Clash Amidst Local Campaigning
Biratnagar. The Jhapa Constituency No. 5 for the House of Representatives has become the main electoral area of the country. Two candidates for the future Prime Minister are competing here.
Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has historically been elected from this constituency with a large margin. Balendra (Balen) Shah, a senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has filed his candidacy from this constituency. He is also the leader proposed by the RSP as a future Prime Minister.
Caught in the crossfire of the competition between these two future Prime Ministers are Mandira Chimariya, the candidate from the Nepali Congress, and Ranjit Tamang, the candidate from the CPN (Maoist Centre). Including them, 24 candidates are competing in this constituency.
Other candidates who are somewhat in the spotlight are Samir Tamang of the Shram Sanskriti Party and Laxmi Prasad Sangraula of the RPP.
According to the Election Commission's schedule, election campaigning is only allowed from Falgun 4. However, electoral activities are intensifying in Jhapa-5. During visits to various places in the area on Friday and Saturday, the increased activities of candidates and parties were clearly visible. Discussions about the election were heard in tea stalls, public squares, marketplaces, and villages.
Candidates and party workers were busy with door-to-door campaigns. On Saturday morning, the RSP team was found at the Jyoti Church Mandal in the slum settlement of Dhukurapani in Damak Municipality-3, while CPN-UML Chairman Oli was busy meeting voters in Sarangpada market of Kamal Rural Municipality-1.
Oli, who did not conduct door-to-door campaigns in previous elections, instead opting for rallies, was seen greeting people in marketplaces this time. He also participated in a religious discourse (Puran) organized at the house of a local resident, Karna Bahadur Khadka.
At the Puran, Oli delivered a discourse on religion and culture. He reiterated his long-standing claim that Lord Shiva and the sage Vishwamitra were born in this very area, emphasizing the need to protect the Sanatana Dharma and culture.
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Oli's entourage was not large when he attended the Puran. While critics suggested this was because people stopped following him, CPN-UML cadres insisted they were moving with a small team in compliance with the election code of conduct. Some attendees at the Puran seemed happy to meet Oli and take photos, while others stated they would change their vote this time.
Oli visited Chhalphal Chowk, Solmari, Sarangpada, Dhyangri, Kampa, and Kerka markets in Kamal Rural Municipality on Saturday.
Pressure on Congress and CPN (Maoist Centre)
Balen's influence appears strong, especially in the rural settlements of the southern Gauriganj area. Some voters were found who did not even know the name of the candidate or the party, but knew the election symbol by heart. While CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli feels pressure in the competition with Balen, the candidates from the CPN (Maoist Centre) and Nepali Congress appear to be under even greater pressure.
During on-site reporting, CPN (Maoist Centre) candidate Ranjit Tamang was met in the rural settlements of Gauriganj Rural Municipality and Gauradah Municipality in Jhapa. In Tamang Tole of Gauradah-7, he was explaining his electoral agenda while visiting voters' homes.
Tamang listened carefully to the voters' questions and responded. He stated that he is a local resident, understands the problems of the area, and is the only candidate representing the youth.
“KP Oli needs to retire from this area, and I am the alternative,” he was saying, “Balen, who does not understand the area's problems, geography, and ground reality, is merely a guest. Respect the guest and vote for me.”
Some rural voters spoke positively about the CPN (Maoist Centre) candidate Tamang, noting he is young and a clear speaker. However, some said that although Tamang is a suitable candidate, they would support Balen to defeat KP Oli.
“I am prioritizing political stability, reform in the governance structure (directly elected executive), ending corruption, and employment for the youth by visiting the doorsteps of all voters,” Tamang responded, “The biggest thing is to generate hope among the youth and create an environment to provide them employment at home. Along with this, I insist on having clear policies and programs in favor of agriculture, industry, factories, and landless squatters.”
When asked if he was being overshadowed by the competition between Oli and Balen, Tamang said, “This is just sponsored discussion and rumor. The country is in jeopardy due to the arrogance of former PM Oli and former Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah. While the country seems to be enjoying this clash, I am a local person connected to the happiness and sorrow of the people,” he said, “I am not defeated. I am with the people. This is also a battle of geography versus Google. Outsiders need to Google search to understand the local issues here. The people understand that the local deity is more useful than a distant god.”
Tamang claimed that he has always been present as both a mourner and a participant in celebrations for the people. Therefore, he stated that he is a strong alternative.
On Saturday morning, Nepali Congress candidate Mandira Chimariya was meeting voters in Damak-5. Met with a team of 8-10 assistants, she stated that although other parties are getting attention on social media, they are going among the people. She claimed to win the trust of the voters because she has been active in the social sector for many years.
“The election door-to-door campaign is going well. Currently, we are slightly reducing meetings and focusing more on door-to-door visits. We are forming committees. We are forming committees in all 29 wards. We have 5 wards remaining, which we will finish in the next 2-4 days, and then the rallies will start after Falgun 4,” she said.
Stating that her competitors are also Nepali citizens, Chimariya mentioned that all candidates will be asking for votes from these grassroots people. “Since I am someone who has worked here for a long time, it is easier for me,” she said, “I have worked a lot in this area, run various organizations. I have been in politics for 35 years. I am not a guest; I am a local personality here.”
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Chimariya refuted the discussion that she was being sidelined in the competition between Oli and Balen. “I am not sidelined; we are close to the voters. They are close to the media. That's the difference. They give speeches in the squares, we ask for votes door-to-door, that's it,” she said.
When asked, “When Oli and Balen are declared future Prime Ministers by their respective parties, don't voters ask why they should vote for you, who will only become a Member of Parliament?” Chimariya replied, “I represent the people here and will vote for Gagan Thapa to make him the country's Prime Minister. I will not become the Prime Minister, but I am needed to make Gagan Thapa the Prime Minister, and I must convey the views of the people here.”
This specific news has been automatically translated by AI. As a result, there may be some inaccuracies or language errors.
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