Candidate Rameshwar Phuyal Engages in Intense Door-to-Door Campaigning in Kathmandu-3 Amid Voter Skepticism

Kathmandu. Rameshwar Phuyal, contesting his fifth parliamentary election, is currently busy with door-to-door campaigning in Kathmandu-3. His daily routine has changed since the Election Commission opened campaigning for House of Representatives candidates on February 4th. Phuyal appears at voters' doorsteps every day. His hands, joined in supplication to ask for votes, rarely come down all day.

He was campaigning with folded hands on Sunday morning as well. We met him while he was canvassing in Jorpati Chowk, Gokarneshwor Municipality Ward No. 5. Before the door-to-door campaign, tea and snacks were arranged for him and others by party workers at a 'phalcha' (public resting place) in the square. During that time, some were busy making flags and banners, while others were engaged in small tasks preparing for the canvassing. After finishing these tasks, Phuyal reaches Jorpati Chowk and immediately starts joining his hands. He is covered in garlands and scarves.

Former parliamentarians Shanti Shrestha, Krishna Rai, and others are with him. Phuyal did not have the leisure to stay long at the square. Before starting the door-to-door campaign, he sets off after considering the sun symbol (election symbol) drawn on the road near the 'phalcha' as an auspicious start.

The team moves forward playing banners, promotional materials, and songs made in favor of UML. Around 50 leaders and workers were seen with Phuyal. He moves towards Baudha from Jorpati Chowk, accompanied by former parliamentarians and those nominated as proportional representation candidates by the party. With his hands continuously joined, he remains on the street all day.

That day, most shops along the Chabahil-Jorpati road were closed. Phuyal's team proceeds by greeting the few open shops and their proprietors.

After moving a few meters ahead, he enters a narrow alley where many shops were also closed. Although Phuyal went inside 2-4 houses to ask for votes, no one came out. Then former parliamentarian Rai remarked, "This won't do." Rai then directs leaders and workers ahead, urging them to announce, "The candidate is coming." And some workers move ahead as per Rai's request.

Phuyal's team enters another alley in Jorpati. The leaders and workers were chanting slogans with enthusiasm. Their slogan, "Vote for what?" was heard loudly. In the midst of this, a voter approaches, congratulates Phuyal on his expected victory, and puts a garland around his neck. The voter says, "We sent you twice before. You have come again, our vote is for you. But you must do better than in the past. Don't think you have the liberty not to work."

Slowly, more workers join the door-to-door campaign. Enthusiasm builds up as the song, "Here comes... here comes... with red..." plays, and workers dance as they move forward.

In that same alley, Phuyal greets Sarita Shrestha, a local who runs a tailoring shop, and asks for her vote. Shrestha wishes Phuyal well. She nods her head in agreement ("Hunchha").

Seeing the style of voter Shrestha, the Ratopati team asked her, "Do you not like candidate Phuyal?" Shrestha replied, "I didn't even recognize the candidate."

"You hadn't heard his name?" we asked again. "I had heard the name, but I didn't know that was him," she said casually. Shrestha, who had heard Phuyal's name but didn't recognize his face, stated she had no questions for the candidate. "I have no questions for him; whoever we vote for, they won't do anything for us," she said listlessly.

During the canvassing, an elderly citizen wished Phuyal well. He didn't just offer good wishes; he also urged them to ensure victory, stating that UML is the party for the elderly. Phuyal moved on, saying, "Yes."

After moving a short distance, Phuyal is welcomed in front of a house with the sun symbol drawn. The family of that house puts a garland and scarf around him. "I won the election before because of your affection; I have come again," Phuyal says while asking for votes, promising to work according to necessity as he moves forward.

A Flood of Questions for Phuyal

A little further on, a young man asks Phuyal, "If you win again, what will you do for our constituency? It is said that those who won previously haven't done much work, that the old ones didn't work. How will you counter this narrative?"

Wherever Phuyal goes, he cannot escape the circle of questions. Voters present a list of unfulfilled promises from the past and grill him. "What did you achieve by winning in the past, and now you've come to ask for votes?" These were the most frequent questions Phuyal faced from voters. In response, he keeps saying, "I will make the remaining work more systematic."

The reasons to vote for UML were blaring from speakers at high volume, publicizing the work done while UML led the government.