Mohammad Ishtiaq Rai, who joined UML after breaking his 20-year political journey with Madhesh movement leader Upendra Yadav, is a candidate in Banke 2. Rai, who became a member of the first Constituent Assembly in 2064 and an MP in 2074, is competing in Banke 2 for the third time. What is Rai asking for votes from the voters amid the changed party and political situation? An edited excerpt of a conversation between Kantipur's Jaisingh Mahara and Kamal Panthi with UML candidate from Banke 2 Mohammad Ishtiaq Rai in the context of the elections: What are you asking for votes in the upcoming elections in the new environment of the House of Representatives?

This is not a new environment for me. I am familiar with it and have been immersed in the common voters, I understand everything, that is why there is no new environment for me. Whatever is there is there is there.
You lost the election in 2079, less than five years after you lost, the election came. Your party then and the current party are also different, the competitors are also different. What is your experience?

In the 2079 election, there were two alliances in this area. One was the alliance of UML and RPP which was elected, the other was an alliance of five parties including the Congress. I was alone. That five-party alliance also had its deposit forfeited in the end. In this former Prime Minister's area with 13,000 active members, the Nepali Congress, after having its deposit forfeited and supporting me in a 'head-to-head' election, was able to defeat me by only a very small margin. The 2079 election was held, and it was estimated that that parliament would not last for five years. I do not know whether it was said unintentionally that the election would be held in two-three years or knowingly. But the situation came to such a point that the 2084 election was held in 82. So this is not new for me. Even though I am from a different party now, more than 99 percent of my former cadres and leaders are with me.
Did UML enter this region with all the leaders and activists of the former party?

99 percent of those I contested are with me and all the leaders and activists of the new party UML are also there.
How openly are the leaders and activists of UML in your favor?

100 percent are in this region. Everyone is very openly in my favor. Because for them, this is a golden opportunity. If the CPN-UML wins in this region, it will be historic for the UML. It was clear from the beginning that I would contest the election from the UML. I joined the party on their request and advice. That is why there is no dissatisfaction. It was already clear that I would contest from the UML, so there is no conflict.
What is the difference between the election campaign of 2074 BS when the election was also held from the same constituency and the current election campaign?
The election was held immediately after the constitution was made. Making laws and policies was the first priority, while development was the second priority. There are some new things in the current election, especially the demands raised by the young generation. But even now, if we go into the basics, roads, education, health and infrastructure are the main agenda in every toll booth.
Now development is the main thing. When I was the Minister of Physical Infrastructure, I built a road from Gularia to Nepalgunj, which used to take three hours, now it takes 30 minutes. Bheri Hospital has a new building, schools, street lights, traffic lights, asphalt roads and beautification works. I have done works like waste management, river control, a two-lane bridge on the Dudhuwa River. It is an established fact that no one did it in the past and no one did it even after I was defeated. That is why I am the choice of the common voter who says that people should vote for those who can do it.

Are there any new issues besides development this time?

There are policy-making issues. Another thing is that the situation in the country has changed after the events of Bhadra 23 and 24. The incident of Bhadra 23 was tragic. We also protested, but now some forces are not taking the achievements made for granted. Young children were used to lead them to the Parliament building and a tragic incident occurred there. In anger over this, state property was reduced to ashes. I have made this destructive incident an election agenda. If the Parliament building that we are elected to is reduced to ashes, where will we live? Customs, land revenue and municipal offices have been burned. Due to this, the common citizen is suffering. Such criminal incidents should be investigated.
The blame for this destruction is now being placed on UML and KP Oli, at a time when you are fighting from UML. What are the voters telling you about this?

What would you have done if you were the Prime Minister? What would the attackers have done if the security personnel had been removed? It was not the children's fault, they were demanding an end to corruption and good governance. But the parliament building and private property were attacked. The responsibility to protect the state lies with the leadership. Such accidents have occurred due to infiltration. UML or any individual is not to blame for this. Today, billions have been lost in the country, who will take responsibility for this?
Voters are now saying that we will look for something new, the old parties did nothing, how do you view this idea?

Those who look for something new would be only 1-2 percent in terms of numbers. What kind of something new would they look for? Amresh Singh, who has contested the election for the ninth time, or those who came after washing in a washing machine, should be called new? Ravi Lamichhane is contesting for the third time, is he new? Leadership should be based on ability and experience. I am only 46 years old, how did I become old? There should be a debate on who got ministers and MPs from this area, who did what. Nepalgunj is a sensitive area in terms of security. How aware are you of this? I have put a message of social harmony and inter-sectarian conflict management on the first page of my commitment letter. During my five years in office, not a single communal incident has occurred. I have taken the instability that is seen now seriously. What are you asking for votes for?
I say openly - I have not made Nepalgunj Switzerland, but I have made it much better than the former Prime Ministers here . I have worked for the promotion of connectivity, education, health and religious sectors (Bageshwari Temple, Gurudwara, Mosque, Church) . Maintaining social harmony is my main agenda and the youth have great support in this .