Madhesh Election Ground Zero: Holi Festival Creates Unique Challenges and Dynamics for Candidates

Janakpurdham. Currently, two things are being discussed in the fields and tea stalls of Madhesh: the festival of colors, Holi, and the House of Representatives election that will decide the power struggle. As the fervor for the election scheduled for next Thursday increases, so does the anxiety of the candidates.

However, this time it appears that the psychology of the Holi festival will also affect the election results in Madhesh Province. Candidates in Madhesh politics seem to be under extra stress due to Holi this time.

In Madhesh Province, Holi is not just a festival; it is also a medium for social unity and sometimes a display of political power. Since the timing of the election and Holi coincided almost simultaneously this time, it has proven to be a challenge for the candidates.

On one hand, there is the challenge of delivering electoral agendas along with colors and powders to win over voters, and on the other hand, there is the concern that the revelry of Holi might reduce the voter turnout percentage.

Psychology and Struggles of the Candidates

Shyambabu Gupta, a candidate from the Nepali Congress in Bara Constituency No. 4, is currently busy with door-to-door campaigning. But he has a suspicion in his mind. He feels that since Holi is the main festival of Madhesh, it has made the electoral atmosphere uncomfortable. 

‘Holi has a special significance in our culture; people need to be guided from the celebration to the polling station. Even if Holi does not affect the voting percentage, there is a fear of manipulation in some situations,’ he says. 

Shivachandra Kushwaha, a candidate from the Progressive Democratic Party in Bara Constituency No. 2, shares a similar concern. He complains that when setting the election date, the administration and the Election Commission failed to understand the cultural sensitivities of Madhesh. He argues that it is extremely difficult for candidates, voters, and security personnel to manage both Holi and the election simultaneously. ‘During festivals, people are engrossed in eating, drinking, and merrymaking; ensuring tight security and keeping voters calm at such a time is not a small challenge,’ says Kushwaha. 

Tuesday's Colors and Wednesday's 'Celebration'

Ram Binod Ray, a former Deputy Superintendent of Police and a candidate for Vice-Chairman of Rajnagar Rural Municipality in Sarlahi during the last local elections, closely observes the nature of Holi in Madhesh. According to him, the colors of Holi in Madhesh last for two to four days. This time, the main Holi falls on Tuesday. However, due to religious beliefs, many people do not play with meat, alcohol, or colors on Tuesday, so the real celebration will be on Wednesday, Ray analyzes.

‘On Wednesday, there will be feasts and color celebrations across Madhesh, but on Thursday, there is the voting itself,’ Ray says, ‘Will voters who celebrate all night on Wednesday wake up early on Thursday to stand in line? This is the main fear of the candidates.’ Because of this psychology, candidates will need to make extra efforts this time to ‘wake up’ the voters.

 'Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed' and the Heavy Expense of Holi

The issue of expenditure in Madhesh elections is always a topic of discussion. This time, Holi has pushed the expenditure graph of the candidates sky-high. An anonymous candidate told the Ratopati on-site reporting team, ‘To win an election in Madhesh, one needs Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed (all means). Moreover, during Holi, voter expectations increase even more. If Holi expenses, meat, and alcohol are not arranged for village groups, there is a risk of votes shifting elsewhere.’

According to that candidate, crores of rupees have already been spent in one constituency, and there is additional pressure for expenses in the name of Holi. ‘No one here is clean; everyone is spending money. Holi has become a major medium right now to attract and retain voters,’ he says. 

Umesh Yadav of JSP in Saptari-2 and Satish Singh of Swabhiman Party, a former Chief Minister, also state that the new atmosphere of Holi poses a challenge. According to them, although one round of door-to-door campaigning is complete, there is a fear that Holi might break old equations and create new ones.

Enthusiasm as Voters Return to Villages

While traditional parties are anxious about the Holi atmosphere, candidates from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) appear enthusiastic. The main reason for this is the influx of youth and students returning home to celebrate Holi. There is a rush of Madhesi youth returning home from Kathmandu, Hetauda, India, and foreign employment to celebrate Holi.

An RSP candidate says, ‘This time Holi is acting as a 'game changer' for us. Students and conscious youth coming from outside have brought a new wave to the villages. They have already called their families and asked them to vote for the bell symbol, and now they are influencing things by being physically present.’ He suggests that the return of educated youth is expected to challenge the traditional parties' politics of ‘money and liquor.’ 

Amitaabh Bachchan Das, a candidate from Parsa-2 for PRLP, is also optimistic about an increase in voter turnout this time. He believes that the entry of new voters, as people return from outside, could alter old predictions.

Security Challenges and Communal Sensitivity

The coincidence of Holi and the election has also put local government and administrative bodies under stress. Both Rajesh Man Singh, Mayor of Birgunj Metropolitan City, and Rajan Paudel, Mayor of Jitpur Simara Sub-Metropolitan City, consider this period 'highly sensitive.' There is a risk that minor disputes arising from alcohol consumption during Holi could escalate into communal or political violence.

‘Who wins the election is one thing, but ensuring the election is free from fear is most important,’ says Mayor Singh. Given that many places in Madhesh are sensitive in terms of religious and communal aspects, it seems the administration needs to take special precautions to prevent political vendettas from being settled through the colors of Holi. 

A Chief District Officer from Madhesh says, ‘There is a fear that a small spark here can start a fire. The situation is very sensitive. Moreover, there is a lot of manipulation involving alcohol and money here. We are taking the fact that Holi falls at this very time seriously,’ he says. 

With the colors of the festival and the election running concurrently, while excitement has increased in Madhesh, some challenges have certainly been added. Only by the time the ballot boxes are sealed on Thursday evening will it be known whose color has prevailed and whose has faded in Madhesh.