A leader’s influence in national politics, his seniority, or popularity apparently does not seem to stir the voters in Sarlahi district.  

Four senior politicians have filed their nominations from different constituencies of Sarlahi for the upcoming Constituent Assembly polls, but the people could not care less. This indifference, according to local civil society leader Rajanikanta Jha, is the result of the past performance and contribution of these senior party leaders in local development.

“The people want to see real physical change in their hometowns. They want development projects and expansion of various services and facilities. You cannot expect that from senior politicians,” said Jha.        

Mahanta Thakur of Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party, Rajendra Mahato of Sadhbhawana Party, Mahendra Raya of Tarai Madhes Sadhbhawana Party and Jhala Nath Khanal of CPN-UML are the big guns contesting the CA election from Sarlahi this November. The past high-profile candidates to contest the polls from Sarlahi include the likes of former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa.

Bodhraj Kafle, who actively campaigned for Thapa’s victory from Sarlahi in the past, said one should stop hoping that the celebrity and political stature of election s candidates make difference and guarantee local development.

“If you only look at the condition of the roads here then you will see where Sarlahi stands in terms of development,” said Kafle.

The poor state of health, education, road and drinking water in Sarlahi represents the unfulfilled promises made by high profile election s candidates in the past.

The local political leaders, however, claimed that the senior leaders of their parties were fielded from Sarlahi to ensure development works. Try as they might, the voters remain unaffected, according to local residents.

Posted on: 2013-10-10 08:56