The election is approaching. From villages to cities, there is a door-to-door campaign for leaders and activists to seek votes. Candidates are pleading with citizens to win with a majority, promising to bring about positive change. Citizens say that they have promised not only to put forward their views in the House but also to be engaged in the development of villages and cities.

Many people from different parts of the country have come to Kathmandu with the idea of ​​starting a career, business and dreams. Some in search of employment, some for a bright future for their children. Just as the stories of struggle of every person doing different jobs are different. Similarly, their objectives are also different.

Are citizens living in Kathmandu with various professions thinking of going to vote or not? What do they want? What is their opinion about the elections? Also, how are they earning a living. What kind of country do they want? Kantipur has talked to some representative figures.

This time, many young people have become candidates. Some have come from abroad just to vote in the elections. Some are seen on social media asking for votes about their favorite political parties and ideas; some through videos on social media, some through statuses; some through statuses. But there are also some citizens who are more worried about how to run their daily lives than the elections.

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Aman Chaudhary is one of those who are making a living in the high prices of Kathmandu despite their low income. 20-year-old Aman was found working as a griller in Tokha, Kathmandu. He works at a grill house in Saibaba Chowk, Tokha. He has been in this profession for 5 years. Aman was studying in the 9th grade. His father had gone to Saudi Arabia for foreign employment. Aman's father had taken out a loan and built a house in the village with the hope of earning money abroad and paying it off. His father was preparing to come to Nepal with the dream of meeting his family and living in a new house.

But the day before he came to Nepal, he died suddenly. Aman, his sister and his mother, who were waiting for their father, suffered a thunderbolt. Gradually, their financial situation deteriorated. It became difficult to pay off the house loan. Aman, who had said that he would study a lot and do something, was entrusted with the responsibility of the family in the 10th grade. He left his studies and came to Kathmandu to work. He says, ‘While my friends are reading with books and pens in their hands, I had to hold the iron with my hands.’

Aman now earns 29,000 rupees per month. That is why he lives and eats and teaches his sister in grade 11. Since he has not studied, Aman wants to teach her as much as she wants. Seeing the election atmosphere, he wants to go home. But he is confused by the expenses incurred when going home. He says, ‘I am the only one earning in the family. Going to the village costs money. Even if it takes 2/4 days to come back after voting, work is done. I am in a dilemma what to do.’

Aman has voted only once so far. He says, ‘When I open Facebook, only news videos about the election come up. I have been watching what is going on.’ Seeing Aman talking about politics all the time, he smiles and says that he also wants to do politics. Aman wants the country to develop no matter which party wins.

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Another character struggling to support her family in Kathmandu is Durga Sunar. 52-year-old Durga was found roasting corn in a tokha. She was roasting corn on the fire. Durga, who had also put almonds in a cart, had also kept mineral water for sale next to it. Tears were visible in her eyes due to the thick smoke. 

Durga from Shivpuri, Nuwakot has been in Kathmandu for 21 years. She started roasting corn a few years ago. Her husband has furniture. So she roasts corn, sells almonds and water there.    She has 2 sons and 1 daughter. One son has gone to Malaysia and the daughter to Bahrain. Durga feels that if things were going well in Nepal, no one would be forced to go abroad to earn money for their children.

She is not that excited to go to vote. She says, ‘Even if you vote for someone, your sorrows will not go away. Where will those we vote for go? We are where we are,' she said, 'We have not touched anything. We have to pay 35 thousand for the same furniture. Let alone other things, how expensive it is to buy a corn cob here.  If the leader reduces the price, then vote.' She says that she will not go to vote by spending money after leaving work. 'I am not even interested in the election. If the money I spend to go to the village and return is spent on buying corn, it will be a good income. What will I do, who will feed me?,' she asks. 

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Phulmaya Tamang is sitting on the road to Tinkune Suvidhanagar with a garden of Rayo, Chamsur, Somp, and Bethe in front of her. Phulmaya, 45, lives in Ratmate village of Sindhuli.  She moved to Kathmandu 15 years ago and lives in Duwakot.  She has rented land and built a hut. She comes from Bhaktapur every day to buy greens and sell them. 

Phulmaya's 21-year-old son works in a shop. Her daughter is studying in the 8th grade. Phulmaya says that even a small amount of money from selling greens will help her meet household expenses. 

She is also undecided whether to vote in the elections. 'It costs about 3,000 to go home and back. How many days will it take me to earn 3,000. With that much money, I can do one job,' she said. She says that she does not have the courage to go to the village now because she does not earn as much as before. 'If I had enough money, I would have left without thinking. I do not earn much. Nowadays, I have to think about what to do now,' she said. 

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Leelamaya Shrestha of Sindhupalchowk used to sell badar and water in a basket near Tokha Bhootkhel Park. She has been selling almonds since November. But now she is saddened when they say she will not be allowed to stay there. She says, ‘The management committee here has said that she is no longer allowed to sell. That is why I am thinking of coming here and finishing the goods I have and not coming back.’

She has been living in Kathmandu for 21 years. Initially, she worked in the agricultural sector. After health problems arose, she started living in a room. Her husband works as a handyman. Even though she is young, she thought that business would be hotter than living in a room. She earns about 500 a day, but she is worried about what to do now. She says, ‘Even if it is a little, it was a relief. Time would pass more easily there than living in a room. What to do now is what is troubling her.’

She knows that elections are coming. But she says that she will not go to the village due to health problems. She says, ‘I would have gone to vote, but I am a little sick. Also, it is very difficult not to travel in a car,’ she said, ‘For us who suffer all day and eat dinner, what if there is an election or not? I have prayed that the country will be peaceful no matter whose government comes.’

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Sasikala Budhathoki, 32, who lives in Tokha and works as a textile business. Sasikala, who says that her home is in Sarlahi, says that she cannot leave her job. She says, ‘Once you have a business, you invest. It is far away, and there is no question of leaving your job just because of the election. That is why I have not felt like going to vote so far.’ Many people have called her from the village to come and vote. 

Sasikala was not very interested in politics earlier. But these days, she said that the news and election-related videos appearing on social media have aroused her curiosity. Whenever you open Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram, election news and videos come up. There is a lot of interest in elections these days.’  Nowadays, business is not like it used to be.  ‘Earlier, clothing stores used to do very well. Nowadays, it is expensive. That is why business is not like it used to be,’ she says. 

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While no one is saying that they will not go home for the elections because there is no expense, taxi driver Dil Bahadur Baraili is excited to exercise his right to vote.  43-year-old Dil Bahadur has been driving a taxi for 15 years and has been supporting his family. Baraili says that even the basic expenses of educating his children, renting a room, and feeding them with rations amount to 50,000. He, who lives in Dhanushadham Municipality-1, Bardibas, said that he is very happy as the elections are approaching. He says, ‘Other things are just a matter of struggling.

But to vote in the elections, I will go anyway,' he said, 'I will spend about 12,000 on fuel, food on the way, and lunch. Even after walking, I will spend money. But I am thinking of going to the village on the 18th, even if I have to borrow money.' Dil Bahadur, who won the election, wants people like him who have lived and worked in Nepal to be comfortable. He says, 'I suffered in Nepal for 15 years. My friends went abroad and built their homes. Even if those of us who are struggling in Nepal cannot build anything, I want them to be able to sit with their families in peace and eat two meals easily.'

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Kalam Ali, who sells almonds in a basket, is also thinking of going to the elections. 58-year-old Kalam's home is in Jamunamai Municipality-1 of Rautahat. He does business according to the season. Sometimes he sells kafal and sometimes strawberries. He lives in Kalanki. 

But every day he leaves his room carrying seasonal fruits. He travels to Greenland and Tokha for business. In this way, he is supporting his family living in Rautahat. Whatever the situation, he is going home for the elections. He says, ‘No matter what, I will go to the village to vote. The good should win. Even one vote is very important, that is why I am going,’ he said, ‘People say that one vote does nothing. But we have seen and heard that one vote is lost. That is why one vote is also very important.’ 

Kalam says that many leaders have called from the village asking him to come for the elections. ‘Right now, it is the almond season. There is no other place to get money. I am going to vote by collecting the money I earned by selling almonds,’ he said. Kalam also wants the country to develop and for peace to prevail in the country. 

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Young people who have not been able to get a job despite their studies get very angry during elections. Sher Singh Sijapati from Bardiya has passed the HA. 

He is 28 years old and worked in Pyuthan for some time. He is currently living in Kathmandu. It has been 9 months since he came to Kathmandu. He has been wandering around for work for 9 months. After not getting any work, he sometimes drives a post office. As the elections are approaching, he is also in doubt whether to vote or not.