Leaders make promises during elections, then ignore them. This is the custom here. That's why nothing changes here even after voting.
चुनाव एक नेताको जित–हारको विवरण मात्रै होइन
What you should know
– Haridatta Joshi (90 years old) Bhimdatta, Kanchanpur
There was not much talk and discussion about elections back then. On the day of voting, the village headman would issue an order. Everyone would go to vote according to the order of that headman. It was also decided who to vote for based on his order. I voted for the first time in 2015.
I was 23 years old at that time. I was born in Bohorigaun, Darchula, and I worked as a farmer in the village. I did not even read general literature. I never went to school. I voted for the Nepali Congress candidate in 2015. Who was the candidate? I forgot, but I remember voting for the Congress and that candidate winning.
At that time, candidates did not go door to door like now, nor did they hold election meetings in the villages. Voters would not have seen the candidates. Some would not even have heard their names. They had to vote according to what the village leaders said. When I voted for the first time, I had already obtained citizenship. There was no voter ID card like there is now. There was no voter roll. Citizenship was not even sought. Everyone in the village would go at once and just look at them and decide that they were 18 years old and let them vote. But now, even if there is a small disagreement, they act as if they are not Nepali, which hurts my heart. The elections before were easier and more peaceful.
You had to go to Gokuleshwar from Bohorigaun to vote. Darchula was also in the Baitadi constituency. If you walked in the morning, you would only reach the polling station in the afternoon. By the time you returned home after voting, it would be evening.
I have voted in all the elections since 2015. When it came to the Panchayat period, multi-party and republicanism, the campaigning style of the candidates has changed since the election. However, the work of lying to the people is still the same. During the election, they say, do whatever it takes to get votes. And, it is the old habit of the leader to forget everything after winning.
During the Panchayat period, candidates used to go door to door in the village panchayat elections. Even then, candidates would shout and ask for votes. Even after the advent of multi-party politics, the style of candidates did not change.
Seeing the false assurances and commitments of political parties and leaders, I do not think that voting will do anything now. We migrated from our ancestral place in 2040 and are living in Khalla, Bhimdatta Municipality-9, Kanchanpur. However, we have not received the land title deed yet.
In every election since the constitution was made, the residents of the Khalla area have the same demand - that the land should be surveyed. However, leaders make assurances during elections, then ignore them. This is the custom here. That is why nothing changes here even after voting.
(Based on a conversation with Bhawani Bhatta in Kanchanpur)
