Villages and settlements are currently busy with the excitement of the elections to be held on 21 Falgun. However, the electoral excitement is not visible in the settlements of the endangered Raute community of Nepal. Being far from the state structure, they are unaware of the parties, leaders and the election process. They do not seem to be interested in the timing, process and competition of the elections.

The Rautes, who lead a nomadic life and call themselves the 'Kings of the Forest', have been living in Karnali and surrounding areas. They have no connection with the country's legal system. The Raute community has a chief and a chieftain to run it. They follow their own policies and rules.

Even though election campaigning vehicles plying on the Madan Bhandari Highway are heard in this settlement, the leaders do not enter the settlement. Perhaps this is the reason why the issues of the Raute community who do not vote are not included in the election manifestos of the parties.

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After the death of an 8-year-old girl in a fire on 26th Magh, the Raute community has migrated from Lekbensi Municipality-7, Lamna Forest to the Khahare River on the border of Lekbensi Municipality-2 and Gurbhakot Municipality-14. When a relative passes away, the Rautes bury him there and then migrate elsewhere.

30-year-old Balal Shahi, who was found on the Bheri River bridge during his migration on Tuesday, said that he did not know anything about voting and elections. ‘What is voting? I do not know,’ he said while showing a wooden object he had made himself, ‘Rather, don’t buy it. I am in a hurry to sell it.’ They are not interested in the election competition like when will the election come? How will it be held?’ He does not want to keep the information.

70-year-old Mahamukhiya Bir Bahadur Shahi, who has not voted yet and will not vote now, said that. ‘Now it is the turn of the boys, I will not become the chief,’ Shahi said, ‘I cannot even walk, I have made Prakash, who is a little strong, the chief. Now that I am old, I cannot, that is why I made him the chief.’ Now my turn is over, it is the boys' turn.'

In the Raute community, when one is unable to work, one becomes the chief and gives the responsibility of the chief to others. The chief is a respected position. The authority is in the hands of the chief. The role of the chief appears only when there is a big problem in the community.

There are three gotras in the Raute community: Raskoti, Swabanshi and Kalyal. Each gotra has three chiefs. The chief of the Raskoti gotra is the head of the highest position. The Rautes select the chief according to the consensus and tradition within the community. A man who is married and has children is entitled to the chiefship. Prakash Shahi Raute Mukhiya announcement Raute Mukhiya was discussed in separate stages for men, women and youth, said Lal Bahadur Khatri, a teacher of the Raute community.

After a phased discussion, a group discussion had given Prakash the responsibility of the head of the Raute community from November 23. The head, who is considered the most senior in the Raute group, has a voice like the law. There are currently 133 people in the Raute settlement with 40 households. If they had the right to vote, 81 would be of voting age.

42-year-old headman Prakash Shahi knows something about politics. ‘They say Balen Shahi will win and KP Oli will win,’ he said, ‘I know that Lamichhane (Ravi Lamichhane) will also stand. No matter who stands, we will not vote.’

The Rautes use their own original skills and arts to make wooden products. They earn a living by going to the nearest settlement or market and exchanging food and clothes. Rautes are not inclined to mingle with the outside world and enjoy their own community. Rautes hunt monkeys. They eat fruits grown in the forest, including yams.