Locals are deeply angry at the leadership for not listening to their similar demands for years.
What you should know
The daily lives of Shankha Majhi, 73, and Vibha Majhi, 69, of Bhatauli, Manthali Municipality-7, are the same today. They are spending their days worrying about farming, rivers, rains, and unfulfilled hopes.
As Falgun 21 approaches, silent discontent and disappointment are heard more than the voices of the election in the rural settlements of Ramechhap. Even as the election for the House of Representatives on Falgun 21 approaches, the election has not touched their lives much. There are only 12 days left for the election. But even though the day of voting has arrived, the election does not seem to mean much to the Majhi couple.
Dhanmaya Khadka, 75, of Bhatauli also looks equally disappointed. 'What happened before this, what will happen after this and it is the same for us,' she says, 'Development is seen in other places, nothing is seen in our village.'
The problem of drinking water is still the same. Even though Tamakoshi flows nearby, we have to carry a jug to drink water. 'We only say we will build a tank and draw water,' he complains. According to him, work has been started long ago to draw water from Tamakoshi through a lift and bring it to the village tap. But the plan has not been completed yet. 
According to locals, basic infrastructure like drinking water, roads, and education have been the same agenda for years. But since repeated promises have not been fulfilled, Raj Shrestha of Puranagaun, Manthali Municipality-9, says that disappointment is deepening. He said, 'Many dreams have been shared with the people in the repeated elections. But there has been no change. The problems of drinking water and roads are the same. Other issues are different.'
This time, 17 candidates are in the fray in Ramechhap. 3 of the candidates are independent. There are 187,952 voters in the district. 96 polling stations and 228 polling stations have been designated for the election. All bodies are active to make the election successful, and the District Election Office is also preparing to conduct the voting safely.
But there is a reality beyond the statistics. There is little election activity in the villages and towns, and the enthusiasm of voters is low. Fear of being washed away by the rains, lack of drinking water, employment problems, and unfulfilled promises are weighing on the minds of voters. As Falgun 21 approaches, silent dissatisfaction and disappointment are heard more than the voices of the election in the rural settlements of Ramechhap.
