Lekh Bahadur Sunari Magar of Kachal Arkhotdi, Tinau Rural Municipality-1, was working on laying stones on the road leading to Kachal Phat. Leaders of three/four parties are seen walking towards Kachal Phat, blowing dust and using microphones.

‘The election excitement of Falgun 21 has increased dramatically,’ Sunari was saying with his friends, ‘Until two or three days ago, there was not much excitement. He walked around with a microphone, but there was nothing much to do for the citizens.’ He did not like the dust that was being created by vehicles that were blowing water in the middle of his work.

He said that vehicles were flying flags of UML, Congress, Nepali Communist Party, and National Independent Party, and were playing microphones. He said that irrigation, drinking water, and employment were the main problems in the village. There is a big problem with irrigation in this village with 45 houses. Amliso is cultivated here. The locals also weave bamboo ropes. There is a lot of potential for banana cultivation. ‘The main problem in our village is irrigation,’ he said, ‘Since there is no water, nothing else can be done except for vegetable farming and seasonal vegetables.’

There have been many discussions in the village to implement an irrigation scheme from the nearby Kachalkhola and Kurmakhola. But the geographical conditions are not that good to bring it from Kurmankhola. On the other hand, the residents of Ward No. 2 Dobhan Khursane have not given it easily. A lift should be provided from Kachalkhola. ‘It is a village with good potential for vegetable farming,’ he said, ‘Currently, vegetable farming and seasonal vegetables are being cultivated.’ The residents here cultivate paddy, mustard, maize, and wheat.

Local Nuramati Lamtari also said that the dust is bothering her because her house is right next to the road. ‘The dust is constantly blowing on the road. After the construction of a concrete bridge over the Kurman River, although it is somewhat easier now, a plan for a canal, road and drinking water is necessary,' she said, 'During elections, you hear leaders of all parties saying they will do this and that. And then they don't come back.'

Even though there is abundant banana cultivation and pockets of amliso here, the local, state and federal governments have not paid attention.
In Arkhotdi, drinking water comes in small quantities in Chait and Baisakh. It is not enough even for the Karesabari and cattle. The days have passed in the traditional farming system. There is an agriculture branch in the rural municipality. The Agricultural Knowledge Center, the National Agricultural Modernization Project Vegetable Zone have also been operating in the district for 8 years. Various non-governmental organizations are also operating in the district in coordination with the municipality. But she said that she has not received any support so far.

‘I have heard that there is a lot of potential for banana farming and that pocket areas will be built,’ she said, ‘but the government budget has not been managed yet.’ She said that the drinking water coming from the Pipyangdi source will be less from Chaitra to Jestha. She said that the excitement of the elections is not like before this time. She complains that all the leaders only make promises to win the elections every time but do not work.’

According to Hemant Sharma, head of the agriculture branch of Tinau Rural Municipality, there are no programs through groups and cooperatives. He said that although there is a general mini tiller program, other agricultural programs have not been carried out. ‘We have not implemented pocket areas or other main programs,’ he said, ‘There has been no program this year or in the previous year.’

Kachal of Tinau Rural Municipality was under area number 3 before 2074. After 2074, it has now become area 2. Om Bahadur Gharti of UML was elected at the local level in 2074 BS and Prem Shrestha of UML in 2079 BS. Tularam Gharti Magar from the then Maoists won the Lumbini Provincial Assembly in both 2074 BS and 2079 BS. Som Prasad Pandey of UML and Thakur Prasad Gaire of UML were elected as members of the House of Representatives in 2074 BS and 2079 BS.

Not only the UML, which won the previous elections, but candidates from all parties have brought the issues of irrigation and agriculture to the fore in their manifestos. Locals complain that their demands have not been addressed after winning the elections on these same issues before. In the election on Falgun 21, 16 candidates, including parties and independents, are in the fray from Palpa-2.

Himal Dutta Shrestha of Nepali Congress, Thakur Prasad Gaire of UML, Som Prasad Pandey of Nepali Communist Party, and Madhav Bahadur Thapa of the National Independent Party have reached this village seeking votes so far. Dul Bahadur Kunwar from RPP, Bal Bahadur Darlami (Vishal) from Rastriya Janamorcha, Dev Prasad Shrestha from National Republic Nepal, Top Bahadur Aslami from Rastriya Janmukti Party, Khik Bahadur Reshmi from Janata Samajwadi Party (single election symbol) are the candidates.

Man Bahadur Darlami from Mongol National Organization, Krishna Shobha Musyakhwa from Nepal Mazdoor Kisan Party, Ram Bahadur Aslami from Sovereign Citizen Party, Bishnu Thadrai (Sarki) from CPN Maoist and Bodh Raj Jai from Progressive Democratic Party are the candidates from this constituency. Mohan Kunwar Thapa Magar, Keshav Prasad Basyal are independent candidates.