Voter Apathy and Unmet Promises Plague Tanahun as Residents Question the Value of Voting

Tanahun. Samina Bote of Byas Municipality-10 is old enough to vote twice, but she has neither made a voter ID card nor has the drive to do so. Having seen her parents vote in multiple elections, Samina has lost faith that voting will bring any change. She said, 'My parents have always voted. Yet, we don't have running water, nor have we secured reliable employment. Why should I vote now? What's the use of making a voter ID card?'

No political party in the village has even attempted to persuade her that she should get a voter ID card or cast a vote. Most of the youth in the village are unemployed. Some have migrated abroad, while others cross the hills to the Kali Gandaki river to sift sand.

Haribahadur Thapa, Samina's neighbor, moved here from Baglung over 40 years ago. Since he became aware, he has voted in every election. In every election, his ears hear the same promise: 'Our party will bring water. Every house will have a tap, and we will provide employment.'

Thapa has five buffaloes in his shed, for which he personally paid to install two motors from the Madi River to draw water to his house. Expressing his frustration, he said, 'There are no more dreams to listen to. If leaders had done even half of what they promised, we would be masters today. We have experienced all the old and new faces; we are tired of just voting now.'

A severe drinking water crisis exists in most rural areas of Tanahun. Rivers flow right below the edge of their homes, but the leaders who could draw that water to their houses have not reached the villagers. Consequently, most voters lack enthusiasm for the elections.

'Elections come, someone wins and leaves. Candidates arrive with grand dreams of development before the election,' expressed Goma Mishra of Byas-8, venting her anger, 'After winning, neither do we see the candidate's face for five years, nor does development arrive. We have to wait for an election just to meet a leader.'

Byas-8 is the ancestral home of President Ramchandra Paudel. 'Even though this is the President's village, the road is in this condition. No matter how many times someone wins the election, our suffering will not change,' she said.

The work to upgrade the road reaching Risti has now begun. Nevertheless, the slow pace of development construction has failed to keep up with the rising pace of public aspiration.

Man Kumari Thakuri, who has traditionally voted for established parties in the past, is in the mood to change her mind this time. Having felt that the parties have not performed adequately, she is looking for an alternative.

'Even if I don't vote, someone will surely win the election anyway. Perhaps this time I feel like voting for someone new,' she said, 'Although my hand won't move away, I am used to voting for the old ones, but I will dare this time.'

While the citizens of Tanahun are concerned about local development, national politics is also capturing their attention. They are not taking the firing during the 'Jenji' agitation on Bhadra 23 and the subsequent arson attacks on important national assets the next day lightly. These incidents have deeply impacted the psychology of the voters.

Some are thinking of expressing their anger over the previous day's repression through the ballot paper, while many are preparing to respond to the arson and chaos the next day through the election. Water scarcity remains a major issue in Tanahun Constituency No. 1. Candidates have made drinking water their main agenda this time as well, but the locals have a single demand: 'How many more days must we live in thirst while sitting between the Seti and Madi rivers? At least bring us drinking water.'

Villages are emptying due to migration. Monkey menace has increased now. Locals have demanded that candidates ensure protection for their crops from monkeys and create employment opportunities that allow them to sustain themselves in the villages.