Jhapa. JHAPA: Election activities are intensifying in Jhapa constituency-2 as the date for the election to the member of the House of Representatives is nearing on March 4. The political atmosphere in the constituency has become more interesting with the outgoing Speaker and Deputy Speaker, former ministers, members of the Constituent Assembly, legal experts and youth activists also contesting the elections.

A total of 18 candidates including 15 political parties and three independent candidates are contesting in the constituency. Former Speaker Devraj Ghimire of the CPN-UML, Dharmashila Chapagain of the Nepali Congress, Indira Rana Magar of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Bhadra Prasad Nepal of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Ramesh Kumar Rajbanshi of the Janamat Party, Chandra Kumari Garu of the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, Akal Bahadur Tamang of the Mangol National Organization, Man Bahadur Pulami Magar of the Nepal Janamukti Party and Shree Prasad Sitaula of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified) have been elected in the election. They are competing.

Similarly, Amrita Lawati from Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Manch, Shram Sanskriti Party’s Keshab Kumar Bhandari, CPN (Maoist)’s Arjun Kumar Pandey, Ujyalo Nepal Party’s Chudakarna Begha, Janata Samajbadi Party’s Til Bahadur Rai and Punya Prasad Acharya, Ramesh Kumar Karki and Dr Yubaraj Sangraula are contesting the elections as independents.

The constituency comprises wards 1, 2 and 3 of Buddhashanti Rural Municipality, wards 1 to 9 of Kankai Municipality, and ward no 1 to 9 of Birtamod Municipality. According to the Election Commission, there are 147,522 voters in the constituency and 165 polling stations have been set up at 49 polling stations.

In the 2079 BS parliamentary election, CPN-UML’s Ghimire was elected with 28,716 votes. Bhadra Prasad Nepal, who had contested as an independent candidate, secured 26,455 votes and became runner-up.

Hari Kumar Rana Magar of the then CPN (Maoist Centre) got 13,930 votes while Rudra Prasad Giri of the Rastriya Samajbadi Party got 8,781 votes. Bhadra Prasad Nepal Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) leader is contesting the election again.

According to the Election Commission, the UML had garnered the highest number of 26,490 votes under the proportional representation category in the 2079 BS election. The RPP bagged 22,517 votes, Nepali Congress 15,498, Rastriya Prajatantra Party 7,880, CPN (Maoist Centre) 3,386 and CPN (Unified Socialist) 1,169 votes.

In the last election, there was an alliance between the CPN-UML and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) while the Maoist Centre had supported the candidates of the Nepali Congress and the CPN (Unified Socialist).

Pabitra Kharel of CPN-UML was elected to the House of Representatives in 2074 BS. Prem Giri of CPN-UML was elected in the second Constituent Assembly election in 2070 BS and Dharmashila Chapagain of the then CPN (Maoist) was elected in the first Constituent Assembly election. The UML had been winning the elections from 2047 BS to 2064 BS as well.

CPN-UML candidate Ghimire said that he had forwarded many incomplete development works in his short tenure of three years and needed people’s support to complete them. “For safety in the elephant-affected area, fencing wire has been installed over Deuniya rivulet, the road has been expanded at main intersections of Birtamode-Arjundhara-Buddhashanti and the four-lane Bhadrapur-Birtamod road has reached the final stage,” he said. I have always worked closely with the squatters, farmers and the poor. ”

Rastriya Samajwadi Party candidate and outgoing deputy speaker Rana Magar said that her presence in the constituency is strong based on her experience of being born and brought up in this area and helping the destitute and orphaned children. “I filed my candidacy to give continuity to the development works I started in the capacity of the deputy mayor and to complete the remaining important tasks in the constitution drafting,” he said. My commitment is to further strengthen social justice and inclusion through the constitution. ”

Candidate of the Communist Party of Nepal and former minister Chapagain said that they are planning to develop Birtamod as a ‘smart city’ by making it a sub-metropolitan city. “I am working to establish temporary women’s home in Birtamod and construct safe shelter for the helpless women and sisters,” she said. The goal is to connect youths with tourism by connecting Kechana to Kanchenjunga and connecting Sadhutar, Jaleshwor Dham and Garamuni Durga Temple with religious tourism. ”

Nepali Congress candidate Prasain said that the youth generation should take the leadership and stressed on youth-friendly laws and policy-making. He added that there was a plan to make women and youths self-reliant in agriculture sector.

Independent candidate and former attorney general Dr Sangraula said that legal reforms and constitution amendment were necessary, adding that he filed his candidacy to reach the parliament to take the country in the right direction. Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) candidate Nepal said his main agenda was to preserve Hindu state and Sanatan Dharma.

While the candidates are claiming their victory, the local people have stressed that the new representatives should focus on creating an environment conducive for investment in agriculture, energy and industry. Mehar Magar, a resident of Arjundhara-8, said, “Arjundhara, Birtamod and hilly geography will be prosperous if the agricultural revolution and increase investment in small industries.” We need lawmakers who promote investment in education, health and small industries and understand the problems of farmers closely. ”

Similarly, Krishna Chudal of Birtamod-4 said that there is a need for a visionary parliamentarian who can establish a medical hub, educational development and industrial park in Charpane area for the overall development of Birtamod on the basis of business experience.

The multi-dimensional development plans in Jhapa-2, the high expectations of the locals and the popular candidates have made this election the center of interest everywhere.