Having returned from studying MBA at Pondicherry University in India, he had been working on urban governance, environmental policy, green infrastructure, carbon reduction, and expanding international relations for the past 15 years, focusing on Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha.
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A month and a half ago, Taufiq Ahmed Khan of Siddharthnagar-1 in Rupandehi was an aspirant for the RSVP candidate in Rupandehi-5. He seemed to be in a dilemma whether he would get the opportunity to become a candidate or not. Some youths from Lumbini under Rupandehi-5 were determined to make Khan a candidate no matter what. They had started campaigning for Khan as a possible candidate from the RSVP. Khan's chances were also strong since he was close to senior RSVP leader Balendra Shah.
Khan, 49, who was the RSVP candidate in Rupandehi-5, finally won with a large margin on Saturday. According to the final results released on Saturday afternoon, Khan won by securing 38,806 votes. Similarly, Khimlal Bhattarai of UML got 13,100 votes, Bharat Kumar Shah of Congress got 12,624 votes, and Muhammad Vakil Musalman of Nepali Communist Party got 6,176 votes. After the victory was declared, Khan's supporters are playing Holi outside the counting place in Gaidahawa Rural Municipality.
Khan, who won from Rupandehi-5, has experience working at the local level as a strategic advisor. Khan, who comes from a family background of construction entrepreneurs, does not run the business himself. His father took over the business responsibilities. After his father passed away from a heart attack a few months ago, his brother took over the construction business. He, on the other hand, was active as an advocate of good governance, environmental sustainability and development based on cooperation.
Having returned from studying MBA from Pondicherry University in India, he had been working on urban governance, environmental policy, green infrastructure, carbon reduction and expanding international relations for the past 15 years, focusing on Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha. This time, he had sought votes by promising to make Lumbini the world's spiritual destination. He has emphasized that tourism can make locals self-employed and self-reliant.
He said that a tourist route reflecting the indigenous culture will be built from the southern border to the northern Malamala temple. Khan, who is well-connected with the people of his area, had promised to take the initiative to solve the problems of the citizens by listening to them during the campaign. ‘You can win without making politics a profession,’ he said, ‘My area is the birthplace of Buddha. Therefore, if Lumbini can be managed and tourism can be promoted, the standard of living of the citizens will improve.’
He said that this time he accepted his victory as a responsibility because the people voted for change rather than political investment and hard work.
He is currently an advisor to the Green Youth Foundation. He is a strategic advisor to Lumbini Cultural Municipality and Siddharthanagar Municipality. He has experience in policy and project development from local to international levels. His friend Arjun Kurmi said that Khan has worked on world peace programs and international coordination.
‘Rupandehi-5 has received an educated and experienced leadership for the first time,’ he said, ‘We are confident of working for the development of the region by incorporating the spirit of the youth.’ He said that qualified people’s representatives have been selected along with the wave of change.
