Venting his frustration, the 53-year-old said in the last election too the political parties had made similar promises in the district. “Just as in the case of drafting the new constitution, they also failed to bring about a visible change in the people´s life,” he said. [break]
Locals of Subal, Pilache, Bhuitol, Sundhara, among other areas in Lalitpur, stand in queue at stone spouts for several hours to get some drinking water. To make the matter worse, the spouts remain dry during dry season. “But none of the political parties have ever taken initiatives to ensure alternative supply of water in the areas and improve the life of people,” said Prayag Lal Joshi, another local. He is also a water expert.
The constituency comprises of a dozen of wards inside the Lalitpur sub-metro city and five village development committees including Lamatar, Lubhu, Tikathali, Imadol and Siddhipur. Compared to the VDCs, the wards of the sub-metro city are densely populated. Apart from the problem of drinking water, the locals are fed up with poor sewage system and narrow roads always accompanied by traffic congestion. But political leaders have remained apathetic to their problems, accused locals.
“After the last election, political interference in the Lalitpur sub-metropolitan city office has increased many folds. Cadres of political parties get various construction tenders through irregularities,” alleged Ravi Darsan Dhari, 37, another local.
Merely a year has passed since the construction of the road adjoining Lagankhel and Mangal Baazar and Maapal and Kalkhu, but the roads have already developed numerous huge potholes.
Chandra Maharjan, Nepali Congress candidate from the constituency, said “I am concerned about the drinking water problem. If I win the election, I will take initiatives to arrange alternative water supply and develop proper drainage system.”
He further said that when he was deputy mayor of the Lalitpur Sub-metropolitan City, he had contributed a lot to solve locals´ problems including drinking water crisis and waste management. “Apart from infrastructure development, we will also take initiatives to increase elderly allowances. Likewise, we have also focused on youth employment,” he added.
He said he had recently proposed to the National Planning Commission to develop deep tube wells in the sub-metro city to end the problem of water shortage.
“Peoples´ frustration is already at a boiling point due to the inability of leaders to deliver on their promises made in the past. Now, I want to restore people´s faith on the political parties by setting an example that political leaders are invariably on people´s side,” he said.
Patan Durbar Square located in Mangal Bazar has been enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Likewise, there are many tourist destinations in the rural villages like Lakuri Bhanjayan, but the areas have not been a big tourist draw in lack of proper road and transportation facilities.
“This time, we are focusing on promoting the constituency as a tourist spot. My major development agenda is to construct road from Gwarko via Lubhu and Lamatar to Panauti in Kavre district. The road will be instrumental in attracting tourists and uplifting the economic condition of people living in the remote areas,” said Krishna Lal Maharjan, candidate of CPN-UML from the constituency.
Majority of the people living in the villages of the constituency rely on agriculture. But arable land has been gradually shrinking in lack of proper irrigation facilities.
“We still depend on rain for crop production. On top of that, younger generation is not interested in agriculture. If the situation prevails, all cultivable land will fall prey to rapid urbanization,” said Dahucah Maharjan, a 72-year-old farmer in Lubhu.
Saroj Singh Dangol, the candidate of UCPN-Maoist, said he would launch attractive schemes in order to lure youths into agriculture. He said his party will develop irrigation facility for farmers in Lubhu and Siddhipur.
“If I win the election, I will work for the conservation and promotion of Newari language and culture and historical heritage sties. Likewise, we will also empower youths by engaging them self-employment activities,” maintained he.
Currently, candidates of the three major political parties are busy in the door-to-door election campaign. But no candidate seems to be ahead of others as all of them come from the same Newar community.
“In the last election, I cast my vote for the sake of ideology and did not pay much attention to the candidate fielded in my constituency. But this time around, I will judge the integrality of the candidates vying in the election before deciding whom to vote for,” said Dhari.
Unlike the last election, voters in the area are focusing on candidates´ character and competence rather than on political parties.
Though the constituency is geographically smallest compared to the other two constituencies in Lalitpur district, it has the second largest number of voters.
In the last election, Raj Kaji Maharjan of UCPN-Maoist stood the winner with 16,610 votes, while Chandra Maharjan of Nepali Congress got 14, 839 votes and Siddhi Lal Singh of CPN-UML received 10,579 votes.
This time, there are 110 candidates are contesting the CA election from three constituencies of Lalitpur district. Out of them, 16 are women and 94 are male.
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