Morang-4 Election Ground Zero: Former Minister Amanlal Modi Discusses Campaign, Development, and New Election Symbol

The fervor for the upcoming House of Representatives election is increasing across the country. Political parties and candidates are reaching out to voters' doorsteps, presenting their agendas and commitments while seeking votes.

In this context, the Ratopati Ground Zero reporting team has reached Morang Constituency No. 4. Former Minister and incumbent Member of Parliament, Amanlal Modi, is contesting from this constituency on behalf of the CPN (UML).

Modi, who has maintained close ties with the public for a long time, is now campaigning among voters with a new party and a new election symbol, the 'Star' (‘तारा’). Here is an interview focused on how confident he is about his victory, what his agendas are, and how he views his competitors:

• How is the election campaign going?

Our door-to-door campaign, street corner meetings, and public interactions are continuously ongoing. We are listening to the public's grievances and presenting our points. We are explaining to the people which party we belong to and that our election symbol is the Star, as the symbol has changed from before.

• You have been an MP continuously for nearly 12 years. Are the people's problems the same, or have they been resolved?

Problems have not remained entirely unresolved. When I was a member of the Constituent Assembly, I was a proportional representative, and at that time, we were in the process of constitution-making. Therefore, we could not dedicate ourselves much to development works.

However, after being directly elected in 2074 BS, I started addressing the problems of farmers, laborers, squatters, Dalits, and various other communities here. Not much work had been done in this constituency before. After I was elected, and when our provincial honorable Vijay Biswas became a minister, the teamwork between the two of us accomplished a lot of work. For example, the four-lane road you see while traveling now was built during my tenure. Why didn't those elected before us do it?

In addition to this, bridge construction work, such as in Gidaniya, Motipur, Sheetpur, Lohandra, and blacktopping works have also been completed. Problems with schools and health posts have also been addressed. As a student leader, my priority has always been education. Therefore, ICT programs and building construction works have been carried out in the schools here. We have also played a significant role in electrification and hospital construction. While doing all this work, there is still much more to be done, as we have only been working at the provincial level for about 7-8 years.

• Leaving aside proportional representation, there is a view that CPN-UML and Congress won for you in 2074 and 2079 BS. When will you win on your own merit?

You ask this question as if I was the only one who won through an alliance. Other parties also won through alliances! There are many friends in this constituency who contested the election through an alliance and lost. Therefore, the role of the alliance is not the only factor in winning; addressing the sentiments, desires, and aspirations of the people is equally important.

I have not discriminated against anyone. Some call from a tea stall, some call from the hospital; I have served everyone in a simple manner. I am not a ruler; I am a servant of the people. That is why I have entered the election having formed a grand alliance with the people. I have built model settlements for the squatters and poor people here, where I provided similar houses to about 50 poor families. Therefore, I have worked to convey the feelings of the people from the streets to the parliament.

• The public needs to know how active you are in the parliament!

The public knows this very well. You media personnel should also understand this.

• Your competitors include Congress General Secretary Gururaj Ghimire, CPN-UML's Jeevan Ghimire, and the Rastriya Swatantra Party candidate. They are known as heavyweights; how do you view them?

For me, all 19 competitors are equal. I do not underestimate anyone. The important thing is who understands the sentiments of the people here. Many candidates only appear during election time; they probably don't even know the names of the villages and settlements here.

• How much of a heavyweight are you yourself?

I don't like the word heavyweight. I am experienced. If you look for an experienced doctor, pilot, or teacher, you should also look for an experienced parliamentarian to build the nation. I am much more experienced than my competitors.

• You changed your election symbol. Do the people recognize the Star symbol?

The people easily recognize the Star election symbol. This symbol is on the lips of the people, and they consider it the support of their lives.

• The 'Bell' (‘घण्टी’) is being discussed everywhere now. How much does that worry you?

I have no fear. In an election, people vote for whomever they like. This is just a wave. Just as when I went to Kenya once, the monkeys there were jumping just like the monkeys at Pashupati. This is also such a momentary wave that will not affect everywhere.

• Finally, what would you like to tell the voters?

I thank a popular online platform like Ratopati for conveying my views to the public. The people are sovereign; there can be no one else. Previously, people used to vote for the Hammer and Sickle inside a circle for me, but now our party and election symbol have changed. Our current election symbol is the 'Star' (‘तारा'), so I specially appeal to everyone to vote for the Star symbol.