At this time, Kathmandu-Jhapa has become like a 'water trap' for UML Chairman KP Oli. He is constantly running to Jhapa. Oli has already traveled back and forth between Kathmandu and Jhapa four times in the past month.
What you should know
In previous elections, UML Chairman KP Oli would only come to his home district during nomination registration. He would stay in Jhapa for a few days and then return to Kathmandu. He would come to collect the victory certificate for the second time and then return.
He was so busy that sometimes he would even register his nominations through mail. Oli's schedule, which is busy with election meetings in other areas than his own, is completely different this time. He has zero activity in areas other than his own. Instead, he seems to be worried about how to secure his own area.
Kathmandu-Jhapa has become like a 'water trap' for Oli at this time. He has been rushing to Jhapa. Oli has been going back and forth between Kathmandu-Jhapa and Jhapa-Kathmandu four times in the past month. Oli does not seem to be confident in this election. Oli is under pressure after former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah became a candidate in Jhapa-5.
According to Jhapa's security agencies, Oli has come to Jhapa for the fourth time on Saturday. After the lifting of the curfew, he went to Jhapa on Magh 5 and returned on Magh 9. His coming and going has increased since then. He came to Jhapa for the second time on Magh 23. He returned after spending a week in the constituency. He came again on Falgun 3 and returned on the 6th.
He spent 16 days in Jhapa on three occasions. A UML leader who came on Saturday said that he could stay for about a week more. ‘KP Oli spent so much time in Jhapa only during the Jhapa rebellion,’ says writer Niroj Kattel, ‘Otherwise, Oli would not have spent so much time in Jhapa after 2048.’
Oli’s voter list is in Bhaktapur. He is not allowed to vote for himself. ‘That is why Jhapa was not his priority,’ says Kattel, ‘this time his passion for Jhapa has been seen to the fullest.’
Oli met and discussed with leading cadres of Jhapa constituency number 3 in Bhadrapur on Saturday. After that, he will directly reach his constituency and participate in a program organized by Hisan, PABSON and NPABSON at the Gorkha Department Store in Damak and will be busy with internal meetings.
As the election atmosphere heats up, voters are closely watching Oli’s frequent visits to Jhapa. ‘He is very scared this time,’ said Khadga Bahadur Baraili, a voter from Gauradaha, ‘that is why he is reaching every house of voters.’
Hansram Rajbanshi, a voter from Gauriganj, had never seen Oli so active during the election. ‘I don’t remember him coming to ask for votes in the past,’ says Rajbanshi, who has been voting for Oli since 2056. ‘This time, it felt strange to see him asking for votes.’ Oli had reached Gauriganj on Magh 27. Local voters from the Rajbanshi and Madhesi communities had asked Oli about the issue of Guintha.’
When Oli came to Jhapa on Magh 5, he had expressed concern about the security challenges of the election. At that time, after registering his nomination and before doing so, he visited the police office, municipality, houses of leaders and even his own house that were burned during the Gen-G movement. He did not meet many voters. On Magh 23, he changed his schedule. He listened to the voters. He discussed with the leaders of various party organizations. After Falgun 3, he not only made a 42-point commitment to the voters, but also claimed that UML would become the first party. On the same day, he went so far as to tell voters, 'There is an enemy in the country.' The previous day, he had welcomed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Bharat Khanal and others to the UML.
