CPN-UML Candidate Prem Maharjan Campaigns Vigorously in Lalitpur-2 Amidst Election Buzz

Kathmandu. The election fervor is palpable in Lalitpur Constituency No. 2 as candidates are busy with door-to-door campaigning. CPN-UML candidate Prem Maharjan is preparing to secure a second victory this time.

Since the Election Commission opened campaigning for House of Representatives candidates on Falgun 4, his entire daily routine has been dedicated to visiting homes.

On Tuesday morning at 7 AM, CPN-UML cadres gathered in Lachi in Ward No. 9 of Lalitpur Metropolitan City. Before the door-to-door campaign, he and the cadres were having tea and snacks. Some were making flags and banners.

CPN-UML Central Committee member and Lalitpur District In-charge Harikrishna Byanjankar, Samik Badal, and other leaders were also present. They were waiting for candidate Maharjan. Upon his arrival, he was garlanded, and they set off for the door-to-door campaign, considering the sun auspicious.

The team moved forward, displaying banners, promotional materials, and playing party songs. In Lalitpur Metropolitan City-9, surrounded by heritage sites, people were already out for morning prayers. The Newar community resides in this area. Maharjan, joining hands, says in the Newari language, ‘Please put a swastika mark on the Sun symbol and vote for us.’

Voters immediately respond to Maharjan in their own language, saying, ‘Congratulations on your victory, we will definitely give you our vote.’

Local leaders and cadres walking with Maharjan distribute the candidate's commitment letter and sample ballots to every house and voter. One leading cadre tells a voter, ‘We have come to ask for your vote for Prem Dai alongside Maharjan this time. Please vote and make him win. To complete the unfinished work from his previous term as a lawmaker, you must vote for the Sun symbol.’

Echoing this sentiment, Maharjan tells the voters, ‘I have come again to ask for your invaluable vote; I expect you to vote and make me win.’

The door-to-door campaign moved forward. A family was found ready to garland and apply *abir* (colored powder) to Maharjan a little ahead. They wished him success in the election and requested him to take initiative in preserving the heritage of the Chyasal area, managing drainage, and solving the drinking water problem. Maharjan asked for votes, assuring them.

The door-to-door campaign continued with the candidate listening to and answering voters' questions. The team reached the Chyamunda Temple. There too, voters welcomed him with garlands and offered best wishes for victory.

Meanwhile, one voter stated that they would vote for the candidate who commits to preserving the heritage of Lalitpur-2. ‘Lalitpur Chyasal, Patan area is a World Heritage Site. It has many heritages and cultures. This must be preserved and tourism developed. We will vote for the candidate who commits to doing that,’ he said confidently.

After listening to the voter, Maharjan replied, ‘My first commitment is exactly what you mentioned. I am committed to working on that issue. Please vote for me under the Sun symbol.’

The door-to-door campaign was progressing. Maharjan sought blessings from an elderly man, who wished him victory.

When we asked the elderly voter, who only responded with ‘Yes’ to the candidate, ‘Do you have any complaints about the candidate?’ he replied, ‘Nothing, I voted for him in the last election too. I have only ever voted for the Sun. I will vote for him again. He has brought development to our area.’

Many voters we spoke to in Lalitpur-2 said they would vote for the Sun symbol. Many also remained silent. CPN-UML leader Harikrishna Byanjankar, who participated in the door-to-door campaign, claimed that CPN-UML would win this constituency as they have consistently done so.

Candidate Maharjan also claimed that his significant achievements during his previous term and the strong public base of CPN-UML are the main reasons for his victory. Maharjan stated that he has been receiving extremely positive feedback from the public during the door-to-door campaign so far. He mentioned that voters primarily demanded support for self-employment, promotion of handicrafts, and conservation of historical heritage during the campaign.

‘There is a need to address rising unemployment and the problems faced by traders and business people. For this, emphasis must be placed on promoting handicrafts,’ he said. Maharjan noted that the drinking water problem in the Lalitpur Metropolitan City area has been largely resolved with the arrival of Melamchi water, and stated that resolving the drinking water issue in the Mahalakshmi Municipality area is now his top priority, to which he has committed.

‘If elected, we will arrange drinking water in Mahalakshmi Municipality by any means necessary. As a Member of Parliament, I have committed to the people that I will implement this. The public seems satisfied with the work I did in my short previous term of 2 years and 9 months,’ he said. ‘I have always raised the issues of the people here in the parliament, which has made the people feel that they truly have a representative.’

Maharjan claimed that he resolved the major problem of traffic jams through his initiative. He also told us that he allocated budget for the conservation of cultural heritage sites including Lokakirti Mahavihar and Hiranyavarna Mahavihar.

Despite the competition from former ministers and new faces, he claimed victory, asserting that this area has a historical and strong influence of CPN-UML. ‘I am fully confident that the strong public base here and the silent voters will ultimately cast their votes for the Sun symbol,’ Maharjan said.

Maharjan was victorious here in the 2079 elections. He received 19,834 votes, while Sudin Shakya of Hamro Nepali Party came in second with 10,440 votes.

Similarly, Buddharatna Maharjan of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) received 10,136 votes. Krishna Lal Maharjan of the Unified Socialist Party, the joint candidate of the ruling coalition including the Nepali Congress, came fourth here. Having been elected in 2074, he received only 9,539 votes in the last election.