Although the center of power is Kathmandu, the political career of former Prime Minister and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has been focused on Eastern Nepal for some time now. While numerically speaking, the Maoists seem weak in Koshi. The Maoists have only 13 members in the Provincial Assembly, four MPs in the House of Representatives and 13 key positions out of 137 local levels. But after a satisfactory victory from Koshi in the by-elections held last November, Dahal has forgotten the pain of leaving power and started to "relax". As a result, Dahal has come down to Biratnagar five times in five months.

Dahal's last visit to Biratnagar was in Biratnagar on Sunday. He returned to Kathmandu the same evening after participating in the conference of the Maoist Biratnagar Metropolitan Committee and the 22nd anniversary program of 'Hamro Mat' daily.

According to District Police Office Morang, Dahal visited Biratnagar three times in February alone. On February 2, 11 and 13 . Earlier also on January 4, he visited Biratnagar . Earlier, Dahal, who came to Jhapa on February 12, launched the 'Maoist-Tarai Madhesh Awakening Campaign with Janata.'

Dahal, who reached Gaurigunj in southern Jhapa on January 15, Tehrathum-Panchthar on January 14, and Damak, the hometown of Prime Minister and UML president KP Sharma Oli on February 4, made sharp comments against the government with intense political activity. After the incident of 15 Chait, Dahal has started presenting himself as "loyal" against the party and its leaders. A leader of the Maoist Koshi province says, "After leaving the government, President Dahal has focused on the province, which we have taken as a party strengthening campaign". He had been to Biratnagar three times till February and remained absent from other political or organizational events except formal events. On February 27, he came to Biratnagar for a short time to address the convocation ceremony of Purvanchal University and Koshi State Assembly. Since then, his Koshi arrival has been thin . 

In recent months, he has been absent from major events including Biratnagar. From the central convention of Press Chautari to the Virat Expo, he was invited but did not come. Oli could not come to the tourism year started by the Koshi state government on March 26 from Tinjure-Milke-Jalajle area of ​​Tehrathum.  Deputy Prime Minister and Urban Development Minister Prakashman Singh inaugurated the program. He was also invited as the chief guest in the district convention of UML Morang. But, they didn't come.

He has also been invited as the chief guest in the first provincial investment conference to be held on 17-18 Baisakh. However, it is not decided whether he will come or not. Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki said, "Prime Minister is likely to come on one of the two days for inauguration or closing." He came down to Jhapa on 23 November and participated in various meetings and ceremonies of his home district. At that time, he inaugurated the 18-storey "View Tower" located at Damak-3, Dapgachi. But even after 5 months of its inauguration, the tower has not been operational . 

Recently, on 30 Chait, Oli came to address the awakening meeting held in Damak, his hometown. In the same month, he also went to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of various schemes in his constituency.

Koshi region is now witnessing the distance and perspective between the two top leaders Dahal and Oli . On the one hand, Dahal is trying to be seen from the street to the assembly hall, while Oli is treading cautiously even in his own "stronghold".

In the past, not only Prime Minister Oli, but the entire UML is being targeted by identityists. The protestors have been calling UML as 'anti-identity'. The ``No Cable Car'' group raised slogans in Taplejung and protested against Yogesh Bhattarai, a member of the House of Representatives and UML Secretary, who reached the constituency on 5 Baisakh.

Before returning from participating in the Kanchenjunga Hirak Mahotsav held in Lelep, he went to the toilet in the building of the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Management Council and was surrounded by the protestors. The police had to protect MP Bhattarai by putting a hook on the toilet door.  

A source close to UML says, "Due to identityist movements like 'No Koshi' and 'No Cable Car', not only President Oli but the party leaders and workers as a whole are feeling uncomfortable during the previous visit.'

Although Koshi province is Oli's home province, the discussion has started that his influence is weakening in other districts except Jhapa. With the results of the last two elections of Morang UML, he is now becoming really weak in Morang? More doubts have been raised on the question. The impressive emergence of leaders like Vinod Dhakal, who are considered disaffected within the UML, indicates that Oli's grip is loosening. Oli and other leaders did a 'clean sweep' in the district and metropolitan convention.  

Interest in identity politics

Lately, the Maoists have openly come forward in issues like 'Koshi naming' and protests against the cable car under construction in the Mukkumalung (Pathibhara) area . Some time ago, 13 MPs of Maoist also expressed their opinion on the creation of Koshi province. However, now the Maoist is with the identityist . Dahal's deep love for the Eastern region is seen with importance.  Dahal himself has been warning that if the state uses force in Mukkumlung, the movement will break out. Similarly, he also disagreed with the proposal to name the tribal stadium under construction in Kamal Rural Municipality of Jhapa as 'Madan Bhandari'. Dahal's statement and his continuous visit to Koshi are being understood by the party workers as a Koshi strategy by the president, while the UML leaders are understanding it as Dahal's chart-topping .
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