Nepali Artists Dive into Election Campaigning as Polls Approach

Kathmandu. Election fervor is rising across the country. As the date of Falgun 21 approaches, artists are also being swept up in the election atmosphere. Artists, who often claim, 'We are the jewels of the nation,' are now actively seen campaigning for parties and candidates close to them or in their respective constituencies.

Some artists are reaching villages to solicit votes due to ideological alignment, while others are doing so because of kinship ties or personal proximity.

Popular comedian Shiva Shankar Rijal 'Joginder' is highly active in campaigning for the Nepali Congress and its candidates. He has already visited more than 24 districts to help secure victories for Congress Chairman Gagan Thapa, a candidate from Sarlahi-4, and other Congress contenders.

In various districts, he has been soliciting votes for Congress through songs, comedy, parodies, and speeches. He mentioned that he has prepared and sent digital campaign materials for Congress candidates in over 40 constituencies.

'I am a Congress member by birth; I entered Kathmandu through the politics of the Nepal Student Union. Even after becoming an artist, I could not abandon my ancestral faith,' says Rijal. 'At other times, I am busy with fairs and festivals, but during elections, I always work hard to ensure Congress wins.'

He considers the visibility of artists in campaigning normal and estimates that 90 to 95 percent of artists are currently openly supporting a party.

Singer Preeti Ale has also been seen campaigning. She is busy supporting Govinda Bhattarai, the Nepali Congress candidate from Tanahun-1. Preeti is soliciting votes for Bhattarai by giving musical performances. However, she states that she is not a member of any political party.

'My husband is a member of the Congress Lumbini Province Committee. I am helping for his sake as well,' Preeti says. 'Govinda Dai is also from my home district, and seeing the good expectations people have for him, I have offered my support by singing.'

Not only the Nepali Congress, but the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is also receiving support from artists seeking votes. Artist and director Arjun Ghimire 'Pande,' who gained fame from the small screen, is currently involved in the Rastriya Swatantra Party's campaign. He is touring the country alongside Balen Shah, the candidate from Jhapa-5. While his film 'Jharipachhiko Indreni' is being screened, he is reaching villages for the election campaign.

Comedian Himesh Panta is also active in support of RSP candidates in Bhaktapur and Chitwan. Although he was a candidate from Dhading in the last election, he did not receive a ticket this time but is campaigning for proportional votes for the party. Panta believes that since artists are not only a mirror to society but also conscious citizens, supporting candidates is a good thing.

'Previously, artists were afraid their fan base might be damaged, but times have changed now,' Panta says. 'I am currently informing the public through digital platforms and podcasts and supporting capable candidates.'

Similarly, actress Regina Uprety has been participating in the door-to-door campaign of RSP candidate Ashika Tamang from Dhading-1, soliciting votes.

Artists are also active in campaigning for the CPN-UML. Actor Pravin Khatiwada is campaigning for his father and UML candidate Ghanshyam Khatiwada in Morang-1. Even as his film 'Shivansh' was releasing, he left the film to go to his village to support his father.

'My father is contesting the election, so I came out to campaign,' he shared his experience. 'This seems like a game where I have a great opportunity to understand public sentiment.' He adds that this experience will also be useful in films.

Singer Purushottam Bhandari is campaigning for CPN-UML's Bishnu Poudel in Palpa, and Govinda Madhur Acharya is campaigning for Shankar Pokharel in Dang, as stated by singer Baikuntha Mahat. Mahat is heating up the UML atmosphere with his song, 'I am UML, I like UML.'

'I am not campaigning under any pressure. I am particularly active in Gokul Bista's constituency. I am openly supporting him because I have closely observed his vision and integrity,' Mahat says. 'Artists also have personal political awareness and rights.'

Artists are active not only on the direct campaign trail but also through social media and musical contributions. Artists including Radhika Hamal, Durga Rayamajhi, Bimalraj Chhetri, and Hemanta Budhathoki are campaigning through Congress's election songs and videos.

Likewise, for the CPN-UML, singers Kushal Belbase, Baburam Panthi, Priya Bhandari, Laxmi Nepali, Sujan Lamsal, and Purnakala BC are leading the musical front, having sung election songs for the UML.

This activism by artists in this grand festival of elections has made the political atmosphere even more interesting. While some artists consider political activism to be outside professional decorum, many others maintain that participating in the process of choosing the nation's leadership is their right.