Party changes make the competition interesting, challenging candidates from within their own party.
What you should know
Congress President Gagan Thapa addressed an election rally in Kolhavi, Constituency No. 1 of Bara on Saturday. At the same time, he inducted Ataul Ansari, the then Maoist candidate for the presidency in Adarsh Kotwal Rural Municipality in 2079 BS, and some of his supporters into the party. ‘The entry has given me energy,’ said the newcomer Ansari. His entry has strengthened the Congress candidate in the area, Shambhu Bahadur Budhathoki.
Ansari had received 1,840 votes at that time. Therefore, Budhathoki is excited in the hope that his vote ‘graph’ may increase in the southern region, while NCP candidate Santosh Dangal seems to be under pressure. Candidate Budhathoki said that the entry of NCP Ansari became the basis for his victory. Similarly, NCP candidate Dangal claimed that even if Ansari leaves the party, it will not affect him much.
Dharambir Yadav, the then district president of JSP Nepal from constituency number 2, has joined the National Independent Party. He joined the party along with his supporters and many of the then cadres of JSP after reaching Jhapa and meeting senior party leader Balendra Shah. When the JSP district convention was held in 2082 Baisakh, Yadav was in the fray for the second term. But he was defeated by Ramesh Yadav.
Yadav played an active role in winning the election of the then federal MP and current Vice President of this region, Ram Sahay Yadav. After Ram Sahay became the Vice President, he was active in winning the election of party president Upendra Yadav from the democratic alliance in the by-election. His entry into the RSP divided some cadres. His entry into the RSP has made the RSP candidate from this region, Chandan Singh, who had also become the chairman of Devtal Rural Municipality from the then LOSPA, feel comfortable. LSP central leader Shyam Gupta has also joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh candidate Singh said, ‘Dharamveer’s entry and my support have created a strong base.’ JSP Nepal candidate Ramkishore Yadav from the same constituency said that it does not matter to him. Dharamveer said that he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh due to the party leadership’s divisive attitude.
These two characters are examples of political party changes during the election and as the election approaches in all 4 constituencies of the district. Many like them have changed parties, some here and some there. After the party changes and leaders and workers have changed here and there, some candidates are feeling comfortable and are laughing, while some candidates are under pressure. The changes have seen ease and challenge among voters.
Along with the party changes, there is a fierce and interesting competition in the district due to the wave of different party entry. Sometimes this way and sometimes that way, the competition is becoming interesting. Voters in that area said that the vote graph is fluctuating due to manipulation at the grassroots. The cadres are becoming internally frustrated. It is becoming difficult to manage the expenses of the party alone and without an alliance. Those who are in the race to win are tempting them. There is a tug-of-war between cadres and leaders.
Challenge from within their own party
During the election meetings of Congress President Gagan Thapa in Kolhavi and Prasauni of the district, the then joint general secretary of the party, Umakant Chaudhary, and the party's district president Rajesh Rai were not present. Chaudhary is considered to have a strong hold on his community in Kolhavi. Both Chaudhary and Yadav are Deuba supporters. Chaudhary's name was also recommended from Constituency No. 1. But he did not get a ticket. He has won from this constituency several times and has also become a minister. His close cadres say that he is internally dissatisfied with not getting a ticket. Some leaders and activists are dissatisfied after the special general convention led to a crisis within the party.
Similarly, even though a single name was recommended for District Party President Yadav's father Radhechand Yadav (then central member of the party) from Constituency No. 2 before the special general convention, his family is dissatisfied after he did not get a ticket. Radhechand was also not seen anywhere. This trend has also been seen internally in CPN-UML. After the party's general convention, the atmosphere of enthusiasm among the candidates has decreased.
The resignation of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Mamta Sharma and District Organization Chief Deputy Secretary Pawan Chaudhary has also added challenges to the RSS candidates. In this way, challenges have been added to the party candidates from within the party. ‘With the party changes and challenges within the party, the vote count is increasing in some places and decreasing in others,’ said Madan Patel, a Congress worker from Simraungadh Municipality-11. ‘In some parties, candidates are under pressure from their own party leaders.’
Some candidates in the district claim that their vote bank graph will not fluctuate as their organizations are ‘grassroots’. But internally, some candidates do not seem confident of winning. UML local leader Rameshwar Yadav, who is also the vice-chairman of UML’s Simraungadh Nagar Committee, said that the organization has become strong and there is no particular challenge due to their commitment to the party.
Even though they claim to win in formal speeches, cadre meetings and conversations with media persons, they are facing challenges internally. Some candidates seem to be in trouble. Only the House of Representatives is being elected and this time they are not in alliance with anyone, so they are feeling uncomfortable in terms of public support and support. The main competing parties, however, are claiming their own victory.
