CPN-UML Candidate Binod Dhakal Confident of Victory in Morang-6 Despite Past Setbacks

The fervor for the House of Representatives election scheduled for February 21 is escalating 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 on-site reporting team has reached Morang Electoral Constituency No. 6. From this constituency, Binod Dhakal of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) is in the electoral arena for the House of Representatives membership.

Despite facing defeat in past elections, he appears confident of winning this time. Dhakal, who claims strong internal unity within his party, stated that he is taking the competition against influential Nepali Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala lightly. The interview with candidate Binod Dhakal, focusing on election campaigning, discussions about internal factionalism within the party, and his electoral agendas, is presented here:

• We express our condolences for the tragic loss in your family amidst your election campaign. How is the election campaign progressing now?

I spent about 12 days observing mourning rituals according to religion and culture following the demise of my father. I have only resumed election campaigning since the day before yesterday. Yesterday and today, I have been engaged in meeting all the voters. Naturally, the constituency is large, with 137,000 voters. Since it is impossible to visit every single house, I am holding corner meetings at various junctions. I have scheduled my programs like this until Mangsir 17.

• What kind of response have you received from the voters?

Party leaders and cadres have already completed door-to-door campaigning. Programs are also ongoing in various wards. The public has some grievances, anger, and suggestions. We are moving forward by addressing and incorporating these points.

However, the enthusiasm among the public and cadres is not as high as in previous elections. This might be because this election was organized suddenly following the dissolution of the previous parliament, leading to less excitement among people. Nevertheless, the electoral atmosphere is moving forward.

• People raise the point that 'Binod Dhakal, who fought against KP Oli internally within UML to gain influence in Morang district and the province, is always defeated in elections.' How do you interpret this?

I have not always been defeated. I once contested for the Mayor of Biratnagar and was defeated in the competition there. In the previous election I contested, there was an alliance of all parties, and we were alone, which resulted in a poor outcome.

But this time, I have full confidence that the voters of this constituency will vote for me and make me victorious. Winning and losing in elections is natural. A person taking an exam either fails or passes; only a horse rider falls. I have taken past defeats as normal. But this time, I will win, reversing the results of all previous elections.

• It is said that you face a big challenge in managing internal balance and disputes within the party. Reports have also surfaced about non-cooperation from within the party?

There is nothing like that; this is just a rumor spread externally. In the past, we engaged in internal competition within the party; those were competitions to win, not to lose. This general election is a competition of winning and losing. Internal competition within the party does not affect such an election. If it did, it would affect not just here but nationwide.

Therefore, I believe this is just a rumor spread by opponents and the media. There are no internal problems within the UML across all six constituencies of Morang. Our party is united, and we are campaigning together in unity.

• Influential Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala is your competitor. How do you view this?

Perhaps he was influential in the past. But he has been an MP from this constituency for 11 years. When I go among the voters now, I ask, 'What plan came here through Shekhar Koirala's initiative?' No one can name a single project. When asked about the 'one crore rupees that came,' they say, 'Not even one tractor load of gravel has arrived.'

Therefore, his influence is extremely low now. Looking at the current atmosphere, I do not think there will be a tough competition with him; we will win easily.

• Then who is your competitor?

Fundamentally, the competition in this constituency will be between the Congress and the UML. I do not think the competition will be 'neck-to-neck'; we will win in a relatively easy contest.

• So, Shekhar Koirala is not even your closest rival?

He is a rival, of course. But whether he is the closest or the farthest rival will be shown by the results.

• What are your main agendas? Why should the people vote for you?

Firstly, our national agenda is that the UML must be voted for the political stability of the country. Similarly, we have included the campaign to make Nepal 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali' in our manifesto. We have sought votes to continue the physical infrastructure, development works, and social security initiatives started by the UML in the past.

At the local level, the main complaint of the general voter is that the elected representatives are disconnected from the people. The public says, 'They come during elections, ask for votes, and only show their faces in the next election after winning.' Therefore, I have committed that I will be a true representative of the people. Besides my role in parliament, I will dedicate my time to the people of this constituency. My focus will be on education, health, job creation, physical infrastructure of schools, and road construction here. I am campaigning based on the party's central manifesto and these local commitments.

• The 'Bell' (Rastriya Swatantra Party symbol) is being discussed a lot now. What kind of 'bell' is ringing in your mind?

No particular bell is ringing in my mind. But there is curiosity among the general public about whether a new party could achieve something, and we are addressing that. Since ideologies, policies, and programs change with the times, old parties never become obsolete. Our ideologies, programs, and commitments are new.

The public also looks at the candidate's past, history, and contribution to democracy. The new candidates nowadays are like 'unseen when looked at, unfelt when touched, and unheard when called.' I do not think voters will follow such people. Social media has only created some buzz among some young people and students who are underage or whose names are not even on the voter rolls. I have not seen the general voters who love the country being misled by these so-called newcomers.

• You often call your party chairman KP Sharma Oli very popular, but his photo is nowhere to be seen in the election campaign this time. Is it because he is too popular?

Generally, he himself is a candidate in Jhapa. We go carrying the party's policies, ideologies, and manifesto. We are already publicizing the work he did while leading the government.

However, votes in an electoral constituency are sought for the respective candidate, so the promotion focuses more on the concerned candidate. There is no intentional reason for not displaying his photo. It is not appropriate to unnecessarily bring this into controversy.

• There is also talk that since you are a candidate close to former President Bidya Bhandari, the Oli faction might not cooperate?

This is nonsense. This is merely an attempt to create a division within our party that does not exist. I urge journalist friends not to engage in such non-existent activities and dealings.