As the voting day approaches, the election competition in Kailali Constituency No. 2 is becoming more complicated. As the competition increases, the candidates have also changed their election strategies.

While they have been focusing on door-to-door campaigns so far, they are now focusing on protecting the votes of their party supporters who have organizational structures. On the other hand, the parties that have fielded candidates for the first time in the election field are focusing on the strategy of attracting as many old party-supported votes as possible. UML, Congress, and Nepali Communist Party are the old parties with organizational structures in this constituency. These parties are being challenged by the new party Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Nagarik Unmukti Party (NAUPA) Nepal, which have fielded candidates for the first time.

That is why, although all the candidates in this constituency are claiming to win externally, none of them seems confident internally. The candidates of the five parties say that their main competition is not with any one party but with all of them.

Surya Bahadur Thapa from UML, Vijay Swar from Congress, Nanda Bahadur Saund from Nepali Communist Party, KP Khanal from Rastriya Swatantra Party, Patiram Chaudhary from Nagarik Unmukti Party (NAUPA) Nepal are in the fray . ‘My competition is not seen in terms of size with any one party only,’ said Congress candidate Swar, ‘We are moving forward considering the situation of all other candidates .’

In terms of organizational structure, Congress, UML and NCP are established parties . However, new parties that have not yet formed an organization have taken the candidates of RSVP and NAUPA Nepal as a challenge . This area is an area with a majority of Tharu voters . However, the candidates of Congress and UML are estimating that they will win even if they only secure the votes supported by the party organization . ‘Our entire focus is on not letting the party-supported vote waver,’ said Congress candidate Swar, ‘Although there were some problems within the Congress in the initial days, all the leaders are united now. Now, if we can save our vote and add something, it is sure.’ He also claimed that the regional and ethnic bias that existed in the past in this area has been broken and a common vote is being formed on the issue of development.’

UML candidate Thapa is also following the same strategy as Congress candidate Swar. ‘Our party’s vote is there, it is enough to save it,’ he said, ‘We are asking for votes by giving a clear basis for voters to trust.’ Leaders and activists supporting NCP candidate Nanda Bahadur Saund claim that they are building a stronger vote internally rather than external rumors.’

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh candidate Khanal is claiming that his victory is certain due to the wave of support for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. ‘His style of increasing votes by influencing voters has been effective,’ said a candidate competing with Khanal. 

Naupa Nepal candidate Chaudhary believes that he can win only if he can protect the votes of his community.  Chaudhary estimates that out of the approximately 26,000 Tharu voters in this constituency, approximately 14,000 will come from the community.  Although the votes of other communities are outside the villages, he believes that the votes of the Tharu community are relatively within the villages. 

However, since Naupa lost the trust it gained from the Tharu community in the last election and was shattered, the newly formed Naupa Nepal candidate, under the patronage of Resham Chaudhary, believes that he will not be able to keep the Tharu community’s votes united as he thinks.  In that situation, candidates from other parties are trying to attract the votes of the Tharu community as much as possible. 

UML candidate Thapa says that he has promised to create employment for 5,000 people through agricultural and tourism development.  He said, ‘It is not difficult to connect one house and one youth to employment in the network chain of tourism and agriculture.’

Congress candidate Vijay Swar said that the voters of this area have been placing high demands for infrastructure development and said that he has seen a major need to modernize the agricultural sector.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh candidate Khanal says that corruption control, good governance and youth self-employment are his main objectives. NCP candidate Saund Seti says that he will take the initiative to work by making Lokmarg a national pride project. He says that he will focus on upgrading the Baunia-Khimadi road section, constructing a four-lane road from Chisapani to Mahendranagar, and establishing a Tharu Cultural Museum under infrastructure development. Naupa Nepal candidate Patiram Chaudhary claimed that he will implement a youth-targeted self-employment program.