The voters here are talking about the fact that the Congress has fielded a strong candidate in Rupandehi-2 this time. The Congress has not been able to win here since 2054 BS. That is why the expectations of a disruption in continuity in the House of Representatives elections to be held on Falgun 21 are heard from the mouths of the Congress leaders, activists and supporters. The Congress candidate from this constituency, Chunna Prasad Sharma Poudel, is a successful industrialist and businessman. After being elected from here, he has announced that he will use the services and facilities received as an MP for the education of children from underprivileged communities along with employment generation, industry and employment-friendly policies and laws. An edited excerpt of a conversation between Poudel, the candidate from Rupandehi-2, for Kantipur, by Jaisingh Mahara and Ghanshyam Gautam: The time for you to seek votes as a candidate is ending at 12 midnight tonight. What have you told the voters so far in the election campaign and how did you ask for votes? Now we have reached the final stage of the door-to-door campaign. Today too, we are conducting a door-to-door campaign in Tilottama Municipality-4 and Ward No. 11. The problem here is especially the unorganized settlement. Various types of development work needs to be done here in the health, education, tourism, and industrial sectors. It is necessary to develop Rupandehi as a hub in terms of economic development. There is a lot to improve here. The aspirations of the people are also many. Since there are many aspirations, development is not possible at once. We have to work differently by setting priorities. The people here are excited about my candidacy. I have been living in this area for 30 years. I am working in various industries, businesses, health sectors, tourism sectors, and social sectors. I have also given employment opportunities to thousands of people here. In that sense, even though I am not a new face here, I am new as a candidate. But, I am well-connected with the people. That is why many voters have also suggested that employment should be created. There are many voters who say that we will vote for you because of the social and economic contributions I have made to Butwal and this region. Most voters are saying that we want to see you in Parliament soon. Voters are waiting for Falgun 21 to vote for the tree symbol and make you victorious. It is heard that there has been a lot of infrastructure development in this area of ​​Rupandehi, what are the priority demands of the voters? The main problem here is the unorganized settlement along the Tinau river. Janu has been their problem for years. Many Netajis have been asking for votes for years saying that we give red certificates. But, it has not been given . We will work on it with the first priority . Even after necessary policy and law reforms, it is necessary to arrange land titles for unorganized settlements . Some land surveying work has also been done by the Land Commission and the local government . However, the voters there are also angry after not receiving the title deeds of the land they have settled . They have even told us not to come here saying that they will give us red titles . It is natural for the people to be angry when they have been hanging on to the same problem for 25/30 years . There is a similar problem with drinking water here . There is also the matter of city cleanliness . The condition of the road from the highway intersection to Golpark has also been problematic for a long time .

As Butwal is becoming a big and tourist city after Kathmandu, it is necessary to pay attention to not only keeping it clean but also to developing the infrastructure here, even the smallest ones . Along with that, to make Butwal a more dynamic city, we need to create sufficient opportunities and increase employment, and the main demand of the voters is that we should be given employment here. We have been committed to working by preparing a blueprint and planning ahead in the event of an election.

You yourself are an industrialist. The Motipur industrial area here is like a dead end. Industrialists are not even able to go to the SEZ. There are also not enough employment opportunities. What is your concrete plan for this?

We, industrialists and businessmen, are demanding that Motipur should become an industrial area. However, the government has not been able to manage the land, so it has been a dead end for a long time. It is necessary to solve that and expand the Motipur area into an industrial area. We have put that in the plan to do it immediately.

Foreign manpower is working in many industries in this area. We will also address that policy and work to utilize domestic and local manpower. For that, our main policy is to provide training to unemployed youth as per their needs, make them skilled and employ them in the industry.

How do you create employment opportunities?

First, industries should be opened for employment. Investment is needed to open industries. Every businessman is looking for laws and policies that are safe and without complicated procedures to attract investment. The main thing is security for industries and investments. If we can create an environment that can provide returns from investments in a safe manner, there are ample possibilities for industries to open in this area and foreign investment to come in.

The private sector may be excited. We understand that well. Therefore, we are planning to create employment opportunities by making policy arrangements to make Rupandehi an investment hub. In India, the government has made tax-free for employment-generating industries. There is also a provision for subsidies. We also need to have such policies. Therefore, we will fulfill our responsibility to create an investment-friendly environment by formulating a separate industry policy from the upcoming parliament and government and removing obstacles.

Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa has also announced to formulate an investment and industry-friendly policy. We will also take forward the same policy with priority.

Butwal's drinking water problem and the high-tension electricity line between the settlements are also old problems. What will you do to solve it?

Yes. Butwal's drinking water is the main problem. We have also mentioned the issue of undergrounding the high-tension electricity line in the commitment letter. Since the issue of undergrounding the high-tension electricity line also falls within the purview of the central government, we will make efforts to improve its policy. We have also made a commitment to find a solution to the Jhumsa drinking water problem that has been going on for years. Many voters have raised the issue of high-tension lines and drinking water during their door-to-door campaigns. That is why we are serious about that issue. You said we will change the industrial policy. Is that only when Gagan Thapa's government is formed or will it be implemented after the parliament is formed? This problem in the industrial sector is a policy problem. This is a task that must be done and done regardless of the government of Gagan Thapa or anyone else. Creating employment opportunities in the country, opening industries, and bringing in investment are tasks that must be done by whoever reaches the government. Therefore, we will complete this task responsibly through the parliament and the government, no matter what the process is. Encouraging the private sector, bringing in foreign investment, opening new industries, roads, electricity and other issues required for opening industries are matters that fall within the government's purview. For that, we will put pressure on the government. We will continue to take initiatives for policy facilitation.

Congress has come with a changed face, now we will change the country. What is the impact of that slogan on the voters?

Many prime ministers have become in the country. Those who have been prime ministers in different periods may have worked in different ways. However, when the same person always becomes the prime minister, new visions and plans could not come. The current people and the Genji generation did not accept that. That is why the Genji movement took place.

Along with the Genji movement, young leaders of the Congress like Gagan Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma took up the desire that the Congress should also change and launched a campaign to create a changed Congress. I also joined that campaign. Therefore, there should be a corruption-free society, development should be equal, and employment opportunities should be opened in the country. To fulfill that, the Congress party has reformed itself and come to reform the country. Gagan Thapa is now leading it. We, along with Bishwaprakash, have stood as his supporters. That is why it has had a great impact on the common workers and voters. Congress and we have come to the country with the determination that Congress will form the government after Falgun 21 and take the country forward at a new pace. We have also conveyed that belief to the voters. The voters have also believed that Congress will make some changes.

You said that I am new, but the voters say that Congress is an old party?

Now the Nepali Congress is not an old party either. It is a reformed and changed Congress party. The ideas have changed. The leadership has changed. It has become a party full of energy. We are standing as its pillars. That is why the Congress is also new and we are also new. We have come to say that some changes need to be made. Even though I have not contested any election before, I am new among the voters.

But, after the general convention, there is also a situation where the Congress has been internally divided, what is the situation here?

After the special general convention, there may have been such a situation in some isolated places. But, there is no such influence and activity in this area. No leader is dissatisfied. Everyone is united and engaged in building a new Congress and forming a government of the Congress. The Congress has moved forward as one.

The Congress has not been able to win in this constituency since 2054, what is the basis of your victory now?

Yes, the Congress has not been able to win here for a long time. That is also why I feel comfortable winning now. Because all Congress workers have a commitment to vote for the tree symbol. Congress is united. This region has now got a candidate who has always been popular with the people and has a vision and plan to develop Butwal as an industrial zone. Congress has also improved.

I am now a strong candidate by all means. I am the only candidate who will be with the people and the voters here yesterday, today and tomorrow. The employment I have provided to nearly 5,000 people at the local level and the work I have done in the social sector are also the main foundations of my victory. That is why voters are eager to send me to parliament by winning.

Another thing is that if I win from this region, I have expressed a commitment that I will not keep any of the services and facilities that I will get as an MP. I have planned to spend all those services and facilities on the education of children from the underprivileged community in this region. Similarly, I have done good work in agriculture in this region. I have worked in agriculture by cultivating Akbare in the land that was abandoned due to monkeys in the hilly areas.

Our Yashoda Foods Company has been purchasing the Akbare chillies planted by the farmers in the hilly areas. After we started commercial cultivation of Akbare chillies, Akbare chillies coming from India have been displaced. We have earned dollars by selling current piro noodles produced using indigenous Akbare chillies in 25 countries. When such crops are promoted through policy arrangements, the condition of the farmers will also change. That is why I am waiting for Falgun 21 to vote so that I can easily win in this area. I also urge you to vote accordingly.