A different scene was seen on the streets of Dhangadhi this time . Amidst the grip and power show of traditional political parties, a simple and intellectual person was reaching the doorsteps of voters ringing the bell of 'change' . Intelligence, honesty and simplicity were clearly visible in both his face and behavior .

He was Anand Bahadur Chand, a candidate from the Rashtriya Swatantra Party . Kailali Constituency No. 5's conscious voters did not just choose a candidate this time, they voted in favor of intelligence and expertise in politics .

Chand was elected by a margin of nearly 20,000 votes in Kailali-5, which is considered a stronghold of the Congress and UML.  According to the results of the Election Commission, Chand received 31,953 votes . His nearest rival Narnarayan Shah of the Congress received 11,958 votes. Similarly, Prem Bahadur Ale of the Nepal Communist Party got 7,876 votes.

Ale had won three consecutive elections from Doti in the previous House of Representatives elections. This time, Ale, who made Kailali-5 his election field, slipped to third place.

CPN-UML candidate Yagyaraj Dhungana got 5,839 votes, while independent candidate Pyaralal Rana got 1,755 votes from this constituency.

A new standard in politics

Born on 14 Jestha 2032, Chand's identity was limited to that of an academic for a long time. After spending 17 years as an assistant professor at Tribhuvan University's Patan Multiple Campus, he completed his master's degree in organic chemistry and his PhD in collaboration with North Carolina A&T State University in the United States.

Initially, he was not seen as a strong candidate in this constituency where the Congress and UML have a good hold. Many predicted that the main competition would be between the Congress-UML-NCP and that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) would come in fourth place. The election was not won. On February 5, senior RSP leader Balen Shah and President Ravi Lamichhane started the party's first election meeting from Dhangadhi.

The public wave that erupted in favor of the RSP in Dhangadhi that day affected Kailali-5. As a result, Chand was seen as a strong candidate. However, he was considered a weak candidate in front of Prem Ale of the NCP, who won a hat-trick from Doti, and Naranarayan Shah of the Congress, who had built an organizationally strong image in Dhangadhi.

But Chand's victory has proven all these estimates wrong and has established a new standard in the politics of the Far West.

International experience from university

Chand, who has worked in the fields of education and public health in dozens of countries around the world, also has international experience. Despite having many opportunities to live in the world's most affluent cities, Chand did not take advantage of the opportunity. The deprivations of the Far West shocked him more than the city that had reached the peak of material comfort.

'I have seen the world, I have seen and experienced affluent cities. But my heart did not stay there. It pained me to see that children in my own area were not getting quality education and patients were not getting proper treatment,' he had said many times during the election campaign. That same shock took him out of the 'safe zone' and inspired him to enter politics.

Kailali-5 is an area that has always been a subject of prestige for influential leaders. This area is considered special in the politics of the Far West. However, for Chand, this election was a battle between ‘intellectualism versus traditional politics’. Chand, who had not been affiliated with any party in the past, chose the RSVP this time because of the aspirations of a changing generation and the search for politics that would give immediate results.

He did not just share election slogans, but also delved deeply into local issues. His clear plan to fully operationalize Geta Medical College, upgrade Seti Provincial Hospital, and make Fapla Cricket Ground an international standard attracted the conscious voters of Dhangadhi.

His single mantra, ‘You don’t change your vote, we will change the country’, had a huge impact on the youth and conscious class of Dhangadhi. He succeeded in making the voters understand one thing – politics does not run on slogans alone, it requires a clear vision and expertise. This election result has also proven the change hunger of the voters of Kailali-5.

Now the exam in the parliament

Talking to journalists after announcing the victory, Chand said that his victory is not only the election result but also the desire for change and faith in a bright future of the people of Kailali-5.

‘The votes given by the people here are not only the support but also a great responsibility for me. This is not a time for celebration but a time for responsibility,’ he said.

He said that since the mandate came on the foundation of the struggle, dedication and sacrifice of Gen-G, it should be taken as a responsibility and not as a celebration. Chand also expressed gratitude to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for making him a candidate by trusting the voters of Kailali.

With Chand’s victory, immense hopes have been placed on him. It remains to be seen how he will implement his educational and health reform plans when he moves from the quiet atmosphere of the university to the political arena of the parliament.