Jwala, who was born in Panchthar in eastern Nepal and raised in Jhapa, has been questioned after she obtained a copy of her citizenship from Achham to put herself in the backward category.
What you should know
To ensure proportional representation of MPs from backward areas, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangraula (Tika), a central member of the party, has obtained a copy of her citizenship from Achham district.
She is on the list of candidates for proportional representation representing a backward district. Jwala married Himal Upadhyay of Mangalsen Municipality-5 in Achham 12 years ago. She went to Japan for work and became an activist there. Her husband Himal was in Nepal.
Jwala, who was born in Panchthar in eastern Nepal and raised in Jhapa, has been questioned after she obtained a copy of her citizenship from Achham to put herself in the backward quota – how can a person who does not even understand the geography of Achham represent a backward area?
In response, Jwala says, ‘I have reached some remote areas of Achham when I was 41 days pregnant. I have observed the life of the people here closely.’ If I had not claimed from a backward area on behalf of Achham, other districts would have got the candidate.’
She said that she received the most votes when she was selected as a proportional MP candidate from the backward quota in the party’s internal elections. ‘I am number two in the women’s cluster. I am in the first list from the backward quota. I have received the most votes in the internal elections within the party,’ she said.
She said that although she had intended to contest the election directly from Jhapa’s constituency number-5, she backed out. ‘I had planned to contest the election directly from KP Oli’s constituency,’ Jwala said, ‘The suggestion came from the party leaders and family that even one vote would make a difference in winning or losing.’ She said that she ultimately chose a backward area.
She said that her recent request to obtain a copy of her citizenship certificate from Achham district was not seen as a right she had. This move, which seems like a normal administrative procedure, has been viewed differently in the political circles of Achham. Because Jwala's husband's family background has long been associated with Achham's UML politics.
Jwala's younger father-in-law, Shiva Prasad Upadhyay, is the CPN (UML) Achham district president. Similarly, her elder father-in-law's daughter-in-law, i.e. Jwala's sister-in-law, Sarita Upadhyay, has become the former deputy chief of Mangalsen Municipality from UML.
'Everyone seems to be interested in the fact that in the same family, the father-in-law is the district president of UML and the daughter-in-law is a central member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. I have a good relationship with them. I have walked with their blessings. But now we have moved forward on our own courses,' she said, 'I am a politically conscious person. I have come from a family with a political heritage. This has made me very comfortable. All this was possible with the support of the family.’
