Dadeldhura's Electorate Grapples with Change as Long-Time Leader Sher Bahadur Deuba Steps Aside

Dadeldhura. The upcoming House of Representatives election has brought a different feeling for the residents of Dadeldhura, who have consistently elected Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba since 2048 BS (including two Constituent Assembly elections).

Some voters in Dadeldhura appear disheartened because Deuba is not contesting in the upcoming election. However, others have embraced Deuba's absence as the 'beginning of change.'

Manorath Pant, a voter from Amargadhi Municipality-5, states that he has been a Congress worker since 2036 BS. He mentioned that he has voted for Deuba in every parliamentary election since the 2048 BS House of Representatives election.

Pant stated that Deuba has made significant contributions not only to Dadeldhura but also to the politics of the entire nation. 'Deuba introduced our region not just nationwide but also internationally,' he said. 'When we go to any district now, people recognize us as residents of Deuba's district because my home is in Dadeldhura.'

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He asserted that development has occurred in Dadeldhura since 2048 BS. He said, 'Students here used to have to go to Kathmandu to study B.Ed. Deuba opened a college here for B.Ed. studies. Road infrastructure work has also been done.'

Pant clarified that the dissatisfaction sometimes seen among the people of Dadeldhura was not due to Deuba himself being bad, but because of a few individuals close to him and some cadres seeking personal gain. He said, 'He himself is not a bad person; his relatives tarnished his image. He is a leader who struggled greatly for democracy.'

He then shared his plan to utilize the election without Deuba in favor of change. He said, 'Now there is nothing to think about; we stand for change.'

Bhojraj Bhatta, a senior citizen from Amargadhi-9, also says he hoped Deuba would be the candidate at the time of candidacy registration. He said, 'Until now, we only said Deuba. He is also old now. I am also old. I felt it would have been good if he had contested once, but he did not run in the election.'

Bhatta mentioned that the natural question arises: if they don't love Deuba, what will the 'Rukha' (the party symbol) do for others? He said, 'My sons and grandsons were already urging me to support change; now I might have to change my vote even for the sake of my sons and grandsons.'

Nita Bhatta from Ganyapadhura Rural Municipality-4 also says that new faces should get a chance now. 'Since we have to choose someone new, we should give a chance to untested newcomers rather than new faces from old parties,' she said.

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Nita stated that her main desire is for opportunities for appropriate employment within the country for the skilled. She said, 'Because there is no employment, my husband currently works in Mumbai. There is no good school to educate our children in the village. After studying and growing up, they don't get jobs.'

She complained that the family cannot live together due to the lack of employment. She mentioned that someone from almost every household has gone for foreign employment, and their earnings sustain the livelihood.

Ishwari Bhat, from Amargadhi-9, Latsera, also says the country is seeking change. He said, 'It's not that development work didn't happen before, but when a budget of one lakh was brought, only 20 thousand worth of work was done, and the remaining 80 thousand was distributed among themselves, so the development that should have happened did not occur.'

Bhat is also a local social worker. He shared that he donated 7 ropanis of land for opening a primary school in his village, 4 ropanis for establishing a health post, and 2 ropanis for establishing a ward office.

Bhat shared that in his youth, he went to Mumbai for 20 years and worked as a 'dish washer' to educate his children. After returning from Mumbai, he did some contracting work by taking loans, but he quit that profession after having to pay commissions at various levels.

Bhat said, 'The system here is flawed. While road facilities improved, destruction accompanied development too.' He stressed that Nepali youth must have employment opportunities within the country.

He expressed anger that many have made politics a means of earning. 'Many who couldn't even afford to eat in the village built houses in Kathmandu just by carrying the flags of political parties,' he said. 'Those who had the means to live comfortably here did not progress in the same way. Their situation remains the same.'

Krishnadatta Pandey from Amargadhi-8 argues that the pace of development has not met expectations. 'The party is old, and the thinking is also old,' he said. 'Is road infrastructure the only development? Where is the employment?'

Pandey accused the old parties and their leaders of 'selling off' all the factories that opened during the time of the King. He said, 'They came asking for votes, and I told them—what is left for you to destroy in the country that you deserve votes again?'