In Ilam-2, old parties are afraid of new ones

There is a voice of the local voters that the atmosphere of the election here is not the same as before. With the entry of two new and identity-based forces in the Baisakh 15 by-election, a four-sided clash has been confirmed here. Yudhprasad Vaidya, an analyst, said that the power-centered fascination of the old parties has led to the strong emergence of new parties in Elam. "This time it seems that the old parties will be able to win the elections," he said, "They are under the siege of the new parties and identityists, now it is difficult for them to escape." In 2048, UML's Manikumar Limbu won. Since 2056, UML's Subas Nemwang has been winning elections continuously. In the 2079 election, Nemwang was elected from this region for the fifth time after defeating Dumbar Khadka of Congress by a narrow margin.

After his untimely death, UML has given a chance to Nemwang's son Suhang in the by-election of this region. Old, experienced leaders/activists who have been waiting for an opportunity for years have accused Nemwang's candidacy of continuing 'dynasty within the party'. "It is a shame when the party leaves many experienced leaders and nominates new and immature candidates," said a disgruntled UML leader, "this move may also damage the party." The leaders of the UML claim that the dissatisfaction within the UML is getting worse after the recent confrontation between the central leaders including UML President KP Oli. UML activist Devi Chhetri Dulal claimed that there is no kind of dissatisfaction within the UML.

'There may have been some anger in the beginning, but now it is not at all,' he said , 'Please vote for me, I will complete the work that my father has promised.' In 2079, he was defeated by a narrow margin of 114 votes, but this time he is campaigning to win anyway. Last year, Maoist, United Socialists and other parties were with the Congress.

alone UML defeated him. However, this time the situation is reversed. Congress is completely alone. UML has Maoist Center, Netra Vikram Chand Group and Parivar Dal. UML supporters hope that Chand and Parivar Dal will gain strength in Eelam. If the proportional votes of the previous elections are taken as the basis, Congress got 22 thousand 333 votes while UML got 26 thousand 562 votes. In this way, both of them got more votes directly than proportionally.

Maoist proportional vote is 5 thousand 153. The United Socialists got 586 votes. This time, the United Socialist Party has put up its own candidate.

The anger that Congress has re-nominated Khadka is rampant in the other camp. Concluding that Bhesharaj Acharya is more popular than Khadka, the Koshi State Committee of Congress recommended Acharya's name as number one and sent it. However, in the end, after Chairman Deuba's 'Entres' prevailed, Khadka came to Ilam with a ticket.

'It seemed as if there was some dissatisfaction in the Congress at first because Khadka got the ticket,' former MP Benupraj Prasain said, 'Now that the party center has decided, everyone is walking in unison, it has become a collective opinion that the party should not lose.'

Congress and UML For the first time, the new party has come down to Elam as a competitor against the old party. The National Independent Party has nominated journalist Milan Limbu as its candidate. In this region, where tribal votes are considered decisive, RSVP has put tribal faces in the election arena. Leaders from RSVP president Ravi Lamichhane to Santosh Pariyar have been in trouble in Elam for the past few days.

RSWP leaders claim that RSWP has come as an alternative to the old parties and that it will definitely win. However, the situation is not as easy as they claim. In the previous elections, the candidate of RSVP, Prakash Sapkota, got only 1,380 votes. There is no doubt that candidate Limbu will correct the old vote. However, there is not much basis to win. Milan claims that he will win by getting the votes of UML and Congress in his favor.

People are disappointed with the old party. I am sure to get the same vote of disappointment," he said. "The basis of victory is the ballot rebellion of the people." Some analysts claim that the RSVP, which has identified itself as an "anti-federalism" party, can "cash" the frustration of the people towards federalism.

The tribal communities of the east are still protesting about the naming of 'Koshi Pradesh'. Based on this 'sentiment', identityist leader Dekendrasingh Thegim Limbu is in the election field as an independent candidate. He is competing against parties that are completely negative towards the identitarian movement. He said that he prioritized the issue of changing the name of 'Koshi Pradesh' over other issues. A group that is dissatisfied with the Koshi region has stood up for him.

Atmananda Lingden, the religious leader of Mangsewung, which is called the "Mecca" of Kirat religious followers, claims that Limbu gave him a "green signal" because Limbu worked closely with the Kirat religious leader in the past. Religious leader Atmanand Lingden had been demanding that the name of the province should be kept as 'Sagarmata-Kirat' some time ago.

He is not so much interested in Koshi region. Therefore, he is a little more positive towards the identitarian leader Dekendra. Local voters have been voting on the advice of religious leaders. "In the past, Nemwang was known to get votes thanks to the grace of Mangsewung and the religious guru," said identityist leader Bhadragol Kirati. Identitarians are trying to make Dekendra's polta. Some people think that Dekendra will be with people close to Janamukti and Limbuwan.

When the election starts, there is a wave of leaders who visit religious leaders. It seems that the disease in the old ones has spread to the new parties like Janmat, RSVP and others. From Janamat's CK Raut to Ravi Lamichhane of RSVP, they have already met the religious leader. Everyone's aim is to get followers to vote in their favor. Hark Sampang, head of Dharan sub-metropolitan city, also reached Mangsewung a few days ago and asked for Dekendra's vote. Sampang, who has created the image of an independent candidate, supported the issue of identity in Ghumawuro Para while speaking at the election meeting in Dekendra.