Former Minister of the Gandaki Province Government, Pancharam Gurung, has accused party politics of deliberately holding the village's development hostage. He says that the village has been stuck in the same situation for decades due to political division, vested interests and power struggles in the name of development.

Addressing a Lhosar program organized in Bachpur, Putlibazar Municipality-7, Syangja on Thursday, Gurung commented that political parties are becoming obstacles to development.

'If we want to build a village, we must stop politics,' he said, 'Today, there is a competition in every village to plant the party flag, not development. This competition has scattered the villages.' He said that the essence of development has been lost due to the tendency of the parties that have come to power to distribute plans only to please their workers and supporters. He alleged that the villagers have suffered when the development plan is distributed based on the party's equation and division of shares and not according to the needs of the people.

‘Even in small tasks, people look at which party’s ward and which party’s village,’ he said, ‘where will development come from after entering politics like this?’

Gurung, who is also the Gandaki Province President of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party and the leader of the Provincial Assembly RPP parliamentary party, said that the party-based polarization taking place in the name of democracy has pushed society towards division. ‘We kept fighting saying yours and mine, this party and that party, but the village remained the same,’ he sneered.

Targeting the upcoming elections, he also warned voters not to be confused by the party. ‘Give your vote not to the party, but to the working people,’ he said, ‘Not those who walk carrying the party’s flag, but those who sweat in the village should win.’ Gurung said that the time has come for all political parties and leaders to introspect. He said that if development cannot be kept above politics, the village will become deserted.

Recalling the first road to Bachpur on his own initiative, he pointed out the need for a leadership that would demonstrate action. He expressed dissatisfaction that the road could not be blacktopped due to political neglect even though it was there.

Locals have said that the village return campaign would gain momentum if the road was blacktopped. Local Bhuma Gurung says that basic infrastructure is the first condition to stop youth migration. At the program, MP Gurung said that cultural programs like the Lhosar festival will work to connect the society. But his comment was that politics is moving in the direction of breaking the society. ‘Culture connects us, but today’s politics divides us,’ he repeated, ‘Now the people should be aware.’