CPN-UML Candidate Jeevan Ghimire Discusses Campaign Strategy and Development Vision in Morang-4

The Ground Zero team of Ratopati interviewed Jeevan Ghimire, the CPN-UML candidate for the House of Representatives from Morang Constituency No. 4. He previously served as the Minister for Social Development in the Koshi Province.

Having been active in politics in this constituency for a long time, he considers his continuity and proximity to the people his main strength. Here is the edited excerpt of the interview:

How is the election campaign progressing?

The election campaign is moving forward with great enthusiasm. This constituency is geographically large and very diverse in terms of ethnic balance and social composition. Where we are sitting now is Biratnagar, which falls within this constituency.

Biratnagar has one type of characteristic. Then, a little further away is Katahari Rural Municipality, whose social composition is entirely different. Further up is Gramthan Rural Municipality, which also has a different composition. Some wards within Belbari Municipality are also included, and their composition is different.

Thus, it is very diverse socially and extremely diverse class-wise. It is home to some of the most elite people in the country, as well as those who struggle to meet their basic needs daily. This constituency exists amidst such a diverse and pluralistic society.

How are you managing to balance these different groups? The issues must also differ, right?

Yes, I have been continuously dedicated to serving the people of this area for the past four decades. I have maintained continuous political presence and closeness to the people. I participate in every aspect of their lives—births, deaths, celebrations, sorrows, and joys.

Therefore, I have all the data regarding every alley, corner, road, caste, color, and class right here. I don't need to ask or inquire from anyone. Based on all these pictures and the work I have done previously, I have also set the roadmap for the future.

What is that roadmap?

I have conceived and publicly announced several programs through a press conference for the upliftment of marginalized castes and ethnic groups here, especially Tharu, Bantar, Santhal, Musahar, and Muslim.

Similarly, for the prosperity of this area, I have declared the goal of promoting employment by constructing a railway station in Katahari and ensuring the smooth operation of the train. Furthermore, I have resolved to operationalize the neglected and abandoned Biratnagar Ring Road.

I have also declared the goal of making the rural areas pocket areas for agriculture, centers for vegetables, and arranging for cold storage facilities. Simultaneously, I hold the vision of developing Biratnagar as an IT hub to promote employment.

Additionally, I have expressed my commitment regarding some road infrastructure projects in rural areas. Alongside this, I have put forward the plan to promote some tourism centers, including Dhanpaldhadi and a few other places.

You were in the Provincial Assembly and served as a minister for some time. However, looking at the party, it has been in government multiple times, for long periods. Why couldn't these things be achieved? Can CPN-UML leaders even say that? Isn't there an accusation that you are promising things you didn't do before?

No, it is human nature to be ambitious and aspiring. This is a matter of human character. But we must measure from where our journey began and how it started. Let's recall the lifestyles from 10 years ago. Let's look at the roads from 10 years ago. Let's compare the difference between 10 years ago and today. Significant differences can be seen and found. I myself served as the Minister for Social Development in the provincial government for 3 years. It was the time of COVID. I built a COVID hospital within 15 days and served the public. I was able to save thousands of lives. Now, when I go to ask for votes, they thank me and express their gratitude.

I initiated the arrangement for night sports in Biratnagar. I claim that I initiated online education in Nepal. And today, it has impacted the entire country. On the day I took charge as minister, I had said I would displace bags and books from Koshi Province within 10 years. Today, the country is moving in that direction. People's pens are now lost in their pockets; they have stopped carrying diaries. This means it won't be long before bags and books are displaced.

I provided online training to 5,000 teachers, and its impact is now felt nationwide. I facilitated the establishment of Manmohan University. A new modality technical university is operating smoothly in Nepal and is currently providing good services. I have done significant work for the welfare of senior citizens.

I launched the 'Street Human Free' campaign, and this campaign, which started in Koshi Province, is now running nationwide. Thus, I believe the work I did while I was a minister is still fresh in the hearts, minds, and memories of the people.

It's not just about the work you've done or what an individual claims; in this election, when we ask CPN-UML representatives in dozens of constituencies across various districts, they say you face a different accusation. Your party is labeled the party of murderers from Bhadra 23 and 24, and the party chairman faces such serious allegations. Isn't it said that you find it difficult to answer for that?

No, it is election time; we are in a multi-party system. Every party must compete against the others. At this time, all sorts of things, true or false, come up for competition. We must be prepared to listen. But the reality is that the people understand what this incident was, what the outcome was. What did the country gain from the Bhadra 23-24 incident? From Singha Durbar down to the ward office, everything turned to ashes. People's homes were destroyed. All state structures were destroyed. All historical documents were destroyed. What did the country gain? Nothing, only ashes. Therefore, the blame should go to those who caused it. Hence, we will clarify all these misconceptions to the people during this election campaign, and I do not think it will have such a big impact. We will make them realize the reality.

In the previous election, you always had competitors who posed a challenge. There is a perception that you are defeated due to internal conflict within your party. Have you heard this?

That is not the case. I am currently a central member of the party. In that capacity, I have responsibility for the overall election campaign in Morang. I am not focused only on my constituency; I am monitoring all activities in all six constituencies, gathering information and updates.

Before the General Convention, there were factions within the party; those were natural. Elections were held panel-wise. But after the General Convention concluded, those issues naturally faded away. Now, since this is an external election, not an internal party election, the panels from the previous General Convention have no influence or effect here.

Isn't it true that you find it harder to compete against your own party members than against rival parties?

That is not true. You can observe and see for yourself. What I feel now during this election campaign is that the party workers seem more enthusiastic than the candidates themselves. The activity level of the party rank and file is higher than that of the candidates. I have not seen or encountered any negative sentiment there.

Looking at the competitors from other parties, for instance, Gururaj Ghimire is your competitor. Amanlal Modi is from CPN (Maoist Centre). He has been a Member of Parliament multiple times and a minister multiple times. Considering that, isn't it said that you are at a slight disadvantage?

I don't think so. Among the 19 candidates running here, the public will surely compare based on contributions to the democratic movement, and I do not see any other candidate having the stature and contribution that I have made during the democratic movement.

As for the matter of position, positions come and go. It is temporary. And there is no guarantee that the position currently held by someone will remain until next Baisakh. Therefore, the influence of those positions will not affect this constituency.

And regarding this constituency, Amanlal Modi was elected once in the past—meaning, he wasn't elected by himself; others got him elected. He does not have the strength to win on his own. CPN-UML got him elected once, and the Congress got him elected another time. But he lacks the capacity to win by himself.

As for the other candidate you mentioned, he only shows up during elections and then returns to Kathmandu. He is not regularly connected to the daily lives of the people here. Therefore, I am here, continuously present. I am always dedicated to serving the people right here. And I do not believe that any other candidate's background compares to the contribution I have made for the country and the people.

Here, it's not just about Congress and Maoist; now another new force has arrived, ringing the bell (Rastriya Swatantra Party). How much fear does that bell cause? Is the influence of Balen Shah also visible nearby?

There is a little bit. I hear it too. But I see the effect and influence of the bell among those who talk about the bell—the small children, the youngsters, those who enjoy themselves, sing and dance, and make noise. But I do not see its effect and influence at the voter level.

Has the RSP's bell not managed to ring a bell in your mind?

Not at all. They are not even a competitor. As I mentioned earlier, one candidate was elected, not won by himself, and the other candidate has no political background or base here.

This is a stronghold of CPN-UML. But I admit that the results we expected in the last election did not materialize; I accept that. Why didn't it happen? It didn't happen because of the alliance. It didn't happen because the seven parties were on one side and CPN-UML on the other. Despite that, didn't the Nepali Congress lose the Provincial Assembly seat? Didn't Gururaj Ghimire lose the Provincial Assembly seat? He lost even with the support of seven parties. Now he is alone. So, where is the possibility of winning?