Kanchhanpur-3 Election Ground Zero: Voters Skeptical of Grand Promises Amidst Livelihood Concerns

Kanchanpur. As the date for the House of Representatives election draws nearer, candidates are vigorously trying to win the trust of voters by presenting their respective agendas.

In this context, candidates from major political parties in Kanchanpur Constituency No. 3 are presenting the agenda of ensuring the completion of the dry port construction to the voters. They are seeking votes from constituents in various wards with agendas such as operationalizing the Majhgaun Airport and developing the ponds constructed at the four corners of the four-lane concrete bridge built over the Mahakali River into lakes to attract tourists.

Voters, however, state that their basic aspirations have not been addressed for a long time, and they are not impressed by grand and ambitious agendas.

On Wednesday, CPN-UML candidate Deepak Prakash Bhatta was addressing a corner meeting organized in Dodhara Chandani Municipality-10, presenting his agendas. Harkabahadur Thapa Chhetri and his wife, who were cutting sugarcane in a field about 150 meters away from the venue where Bhatta was present, were busy with their own work.

The Chhetri couple, residents of Gurung Tole, Dodhara Chandani-10, showed no interest in which party's candidate had arrived near their house or what agendas they were presenting.

When we asked Harkabahadur, "A candidate has come near your house to present their views, shouldn't you listen? On what basis will you vote without even listening to their words?"

In response, he expressed disappointment, saying that listening to the leaders' words yields no results. "They come during election time and talk big things," he said. "After winning the election, no one comes to listen to our concerns, and even if we search for them, we cannot find them."

Harkabahadur recounted that candidates have given various assurances in previous elections as well. He said, "If our living standards changed just by listening to speeches, then our situation should have improved significantly by now! Our hardships remain the same."

Nevertheless, it is not entirely true that no development work has taken place in the Dodhara Chandani Municipality area, as Harkabahadur suggests. This area, which was once not connected by road transport to other parts of Nepal, has become a relatively well-equipped place after the construction of the four-lane bridge over the Mahakali River. Many of the roads here have been paved.

Harkabahadur does not consider only road and bridge construction as development. He said, "When has the state paid attention to making livelihoods easier for farmers and working-class people like us?"

The father of 3 sons and 5 daughters, he owns about 3 bighas of land. He complained that due to a lack of employment opportunities in the country, his sons had to go to India for labor. "Even with this much land, if it's not enough to eat and live by working here, and if the youth have to go to India to earn, on what basis can we say that development has occurred?" he asked seriously.

Harkabahadur mentioned that the problem of annual floods occurs regularly. "There is a problem with the road for about 15 households in our locality. Even when I offer land for the road construction and ask them to build it, no one listens," he said.

Datte Khadka of Brahmadev, Bhimdatta Municipality-9, also says that he has lost enthusiasm for elections. He, who makes a living by sifting sand from the river, also stated that his family has been separated due to employment problems. "My son and daughter-in-law have gone to India for labor," he said. "I am making a living by sifting sand here in the river. It is very difficult even to feed myself."

Sita Devi Lohar from Sukhasal, Bhimdatta Municipality-5, said that there has been no achievement other than leaders 'donating' assurances to voters during election time and voters 'donating' their votes to those candidates. "I have been voting for so many years," she said. "This time too, I will 'donate' my vote, let them work."

However, she stated that she would not go anywhere to listen to the leaders' speeches. "If their assurances were to be fulfilled! Who has fulfilled them so far?" she questioned.

Sita Devi also feels that the employment problem is becoming severe. "Someone from the house has to go to India or Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia to earn," she said. "And these leaders say they will develop the country. Is this the first day they are saying they will develop it?"

Chetram Rana of Naya Basti, Bhimdatta-16, also says there is a big difference between what leaders say and what they do. He, who runs a saloon business, says that a leader who understands the problems of the people and works for them is an 'honest leader,' but he has never found such a leader.

Rana shared that the problem of elephant terror has increased in his locality, and they live in fear day and night. "Have any of these leaders realized how we spend our nights?" he asked. "We cannot sleep soundly any night for fear of elephants coming. For us, preventing elephant terror is the biggest issue! Even if other things are not resolved, we might manage our livelihood, but what is it like to live in fear of dying today or tomorrow? We have experienced it ourselves."

He recounted that in every election, leaders promise to control elephant terror, but the problem remains unresolved. He mentioned that an elephant had recently entered his locality and caused havoc.