Rupandehi-2 Voters Prioritize Good Governance, Development, and Employment Ahead of Elections

Butwal. Voters in Rupandehi Constituency No. 2 for the House of Representatives appear ready to cast their ballots with expectations centered on good governance, development, and employment opportunities.

This constituency encompasses several wards of Tilottama Municipality, the majority of wards in Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City, and some wards of Sainamaina Municipality. Due to its predominantly urban geography, basic physical infrastructure is largely in place. However, voters state that expansion, modernization, and timely upgrades of these structures are necessary.

Voters in Rupandehi-2 are also strongly emphasizing good governance and employment. During on-the-ground reporting, voters met by the Ratopati team stated that good governance, development, and employment are their primary desires.

Given its urban nature, even the average voter here showed a clear political awareness. They understand that the country cannot develop if no single party secures a clear majority. Therefore, they mentioned they must vote for candidates from parties capable of achieving a majority.

Jeevan Gurung, a resident of Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City Ward No. 11 and a laborer by profession, says that the country has failed to develop properly because the older parties are preoccupied with forming and breaking alliances centered on power, leading to growing public frustration.

He questioned, “The parties have not paid attention to solving the people's problems. When leaders are busy with games like forming, collapsing, and sustaining governments, who will look after the problems of people like us?”

Gurung complains that leaders from these same established parties make various promises during elections but forget those promises once they win. “We have trusted them many times,” he said, “Now, we are thinking of giving the new ones a chance.”

He shared that his wife went abroad for employment because earning a living in Nepal was not possible. He said, “I work as a laborer here. I have a daughter studying in the 11th grade. My wife sends money from Qatar to pay for my daughter's education, and I use my earnings to cover household expenses.”

Gurung hopes that even if the wages in Nepal are not as high as in Qatar, he could earn enough through labor to support his children's education and maintain an average standard of living. “I have a daughter growing up at home,” he said, “Her mother is abroad. By the time her mother returns, perhaps my daughter will have finished her studies and will have to go abroad herself!”

Dilip Sunar, also from Butwal Ward No. 11, seemed uninterested in voting. He returned after spending about a year in Saudi Arabia 7-8 years ago, stating he had to come back because he couldn't find suitable work.

“It is difficult to find work in Nepal. Even if work is found, the wages are low,” he said. “That's why everyone tries to go abroad, but brokers take advantage of that situation and cheat them.” He hopes that if employment opportunities were created domestically, young people like him could manage their livelihoods within the country.

Sunar, who advocates for the creation of employment opportunities and the advancement of development projects, stated that he has never voted for anyone so far. “I won't vote for anyone in this election either,” he said. “For us, who have to earn our daily bread through manual labor, it's the same whoever wins.”

Sunar, who earns between 800 to 1000 rupees daily, mentioned that his family of five manages on that income. A father of one daughter, he dreams of making her a doctor. He said, “My daughter says she wants to be a doctor, but my earnings are like this. It takes a lot of money to make someone a doctor. I wish there were opportunities for the children of the poor like us to study to become doctors or engineers.”

Laxmi Shrestha, a voter from Rupandehi-2, says that if she could get the title deed (land registration papers) for the small piece of land she owns, she could use it as collateral to start some business. “In previous elections, they asked for votes promising to deliver the title deeds, but we haven't received them yet,” she said.

She believes that leaders should refrain from making any promise just to secure votes. She said, “They are still saying they will give us the title deeds now; I wonder how many more elections they will promise the title deeds in!”

Shrestha mentioned that one has to pay bribes to get work done in government offices, and that education and health services are neither high quality nor easily accessible, and development works have been unsatisfactory.

Shanta Khatri from Butwal Ward No. 2 states that employment and development are their main agendas. “I wish the situation where sons and daughters have to go abroad, whether for studies or employment, would end,” she said.

Khatri shared that her son has gone abroad and her daughter is also preparing to leave. She said, “My recently married son is currently in Australia with his wife. My grown son and newly wedded daughter-in-law are abroad. My daughter is also preparing to go abroad.”

She argues that if there were an environment to work and thrive in the homeland, families would not have to be torn apart like this. She also expressed her hope that leaders would reform, develop the country, and create employment opportunities.

Haribahadur KC from Butwal Ward No. 12 hopes for an environment where people can earn a decent living easily. He has already spent 12 years in Dubai, working in a small hotel business. He said, “Working in someone else's country is not easy either. One has to go abroad when work cannot be found in one's own country. After returning from there, I started a small business. It covers expenses, but just covering expenses is not enough; I wish my children wouldn't have to go abroad.”

KC believes that if leaders were honest towards the country and the people, developing the nation would not take long.

Dalbahadur Thapa from Sainamaina Municipality Ward No. 1, Bankatta, also returned after working in Bahrain for about 18 years. He stated that the money he earned during nearly two decades abroad was spent educating his sons and daughters.

Thapa's daughter is currently in Japan, and he shared that his son is also preparing to go to Japan. “I spent so many years abroad. After I returned, my children are rushing abroad one after another,” he said. “The situation where all family members can stay together and share joys and sorrows is no longer there.”

Seti Sunar from Sainamaina-1 says that development and employment are her main aspirations. “If there is a way to earn, we can certainly manage to eat,” she said. “The government must create the path to earn.”