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CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has laid emphasis that all should involve to make progressive power win the election to the House of Representatives and Province Assembly member. Addressing the introduction of candidates of Left Democratic Alliance from Gorkha for HoR and Province Assembly member election organised here today, Chair Dahal urged the leaders and cadres not to take this election as a general election as this election is different than other election. A new journey of development and prosperity would begin from Gorkha, he mentioned, adding political change would not be long-lasting until winning people’s heart through economic prosperity. Also a candidate for HoR member from Gorkha Constituency-2, Dahal further said, ” The change will not long-last until we are able to make people feel about the beginning of the journey of economic prosperity in their daily life and to prepare a draft of economic prosperity.” Similarly, Chairperson of Nepal Socialist Party, Dr Baburam Bhattarai, said all powers should stand together for the protection of achievements gained from people’s struggle. “We have to stand together for the protection of constitution, republic and federalism. A progressive power would win the election”, he mentioned. Chair Bhattarai stressed that political parties should pay their attention in infrastructure development by developing agro-related economy. NC former central member Kamala Panta, Gorka Constituency 2 (B) candidate Surendra Pandey, Gorkha constituency 1 (A) candidate Krishna Dhital, Constituency 2 ( A) candidate Phanindra Devkota urged the alliance parties to come with plans and projects capable of addressing the people’s aspirations for development, urging voters to support the alliance in the elections. “Risks for the Constitution, republic and federalism still continue, prompting the ruling parties to have an electoral alliance,” Pandey added. NC Gandaki Province general secretary Kiran Babu Shrestha claimed the alliance was formed the cause of the Constitution, for political stability and prosperity. “It has emerged to counter efforts to terminate the achievements of so far,” urging one and all to vote for alliance candidates in the voting of twin elections taking place on coming November 20 simultaneously.

Nepali Congress senior leader Ramchandra Poudel has said the Constitution that was drafted under the leadership of Nepali Congress has ensured the rights of the people from the entire classes. During his meeting with the voters in Tanahu today, the leader said the Nepal’s Constitution remains as the well-balanced country’s main law throughout the South Asia. The meeting was held in view of the elections to the House of Representatives and the Province Assembly. Poudel who is also the HoR candidate from the Tanahu-1 said democracy was becoming consolidated in Nepal, but side by side ‘efforts’ continued to jeopardize it. The leader went on to claim that the ruling parties’ alliance was committed to heading towards progression by protecting democracy and the rights of the people. On the occasion, he urged voters to exercise their franchise on coming November 20, the day fixed for the voting of twin elections simultaneously, with a full conscious. “Bad days are likely in the country if the power goes to wrong people.” He also pledged to promote the local Chhimkeshwori as a touristic hub in the district and come up with a plan for its grater development if the voters mandated the party to run the government for the next term.

Dr Shashank Koirala, the son of popular BP Koirala the central member of Nepali Congress, is contesting the election for the fourth time from Nawalpur constituency no. 1. Koirala won the Constituent Assembly Elections in 2064, 2070 and House of Representatives Election in 2074. He is competing with central member of CPN-UML Krishna Prasad Paudel. Dr. Koirala, who won the previous House of Representatives elections when the Left Alliance was in power, says that this time the victory was easy because the ruling alliance was on his side. UML candidate Krishna Prasad Paudel was also elected to the second Constituent Assembly election of 2070 from Nawalparasi-3. Hariprasad Neupane, who has was elected the Mayor of Devchuli municipality on behalf of UML, says that since this area of Nawalpur, which has been won by Congress since 2048, is lagging behind in development, UML's victory is certain this time. There are 131,181 voters in constituency No. 1 of the House of Representatives of Nawalpur. District Election Officer Lal Prasad Sharma Bhusal shared that the voters include 62,596 male and 68,584 female voters and one third gender voter, who will vote from 153 polling stations in 57 voting centres. Along with Koirala and Paudel, 15 others are contesting for the House of Representatives seat from Nawalpur-1. In addition to the five independents, candidates from Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Hamro Nepali Party, Civil Liberation Party, Nepali Party for Nepal, Mongolian National Organization, National People's Liberation Party and National Liberation Party are also in the fray.

Three major political parties are likely to complete in the upcoming general elections in Manang. The competition was between two parties in the last elections held in 2018. The House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly member elections to be held on November 4 will see competition between three major parties, including the Nepali Congress, CPN UML and Rastriya Swatantra Party. The two major parties have presented their old faces to the public, while the Rastriya Swatantra Party is new for Manang. Nepali Congress' Tek Bahadur Gurung, UML's Palden Chopang Gurung and Rastriya Swatantra Party's Mukhiya Gurung are vying for the one HoR seat in Manag. The candidates are currently busy in election campaigning. In the last general election, UML candidate won in Manang. There is one House of Representatives and two Provincial Assembly seats. Munindrajung Gurung of Congress, Rajan Gurung of UML and Mifel Dhindu Lama of RPP are competing for province assembly 'A' seat in Manang while Rajeev Gurung (Deepak Manange) has already been elected unopposed for province assembly 'B' seat.

Farmers in Taplejung now are busy in harvesting cardamom. With the festive season coming to an end, they are hell bent on picking, peeling and basking cardamom. The season beginning from mid-September to mid-December is a prime time for harvesting cardamom. Gyan Bahadur Gurung, a cardamom farmer of Pathivara Yangwarak Rural Municipality-1, Thechambu, said the farmers have stepped up their preparation to pick and harvest cardamom due to possible menace of wildlife. He further said they did not conveniently celebrate the grand festivals such as Dashain and Tihar due to cardamom season. Farmers had to spend their time in cardamom farm even during festivals as it was the main season for harvesting, said Basanta Limbu, a farmer of Faktanglung rural municipality-6. Madibung. Likewise, Khongdu Sherpa, a farmer of Fungling municipality-6, Bihibare said they were entirely busy in picking, peeling and basking cardamom during Tihar festival. As there is rising fear of wildlife rampage, the farmers had devoted their effort to timely harvest cardamom yields, he added. It is the high time for entire cardamom farmers across the district to harvest their yields. There is massive cardamom farming in 60 wards of all nine local level units in the district. Cardamom has been cultivated in around 4,450 hectares of land in the district.

The Election Commission (EC) has arranged a ballot paper with a red election symbol on white background for the first-past-the-post (FPTP) election system to choose the House of Representatives and Province Assembly members in the upcoming elections. Likewise, the EC has arranged a ballot paper with white background and an election symbol in black color for the proportional representation (PR) election system to choose the HoR and provincial assembly members. Under the FPTP, there would be a ballot paper having election symbols of the candidates or political parties who are in the election race in each electoral constituency. Likewise, there would be a ballot paper with 47 election symbols for HoR under the PR election system. According to the EC, only 47 parties out of 68 applicants are eligible to participate in the HoR elections under the PR election system. As informed, there would be varying numbers of election symbols in ballot papers as per the province under the PR election system towards the province assembly election.

Election fever has upped in Baglung with the election to the House of Representatives and Province Assembly coming near. Leaders and cadres of the political parties are busy wooing the voters from rural to urban areas. However, the election fever has not yet touched the flood-landslides survivors of Dhorpatan. Since a week ago, the candidates have reached out to the doorsteps of the disaster survivors with several assurances. But, the flood and landslide victims are turning tough to the candidates and elections itself. They have made up their mind to vote to the candidates who can work in favour of poor and helpless section. They complained that the representatives whom they emerged victorious several times before did not perform anymore for the welfare of the helpless section. Kul Bahadur BK, a flood survivor, said, “Leaders come to ask for vote only during election. They try to woo the voters through different techniques. We voted and emerged winner several representatives but they did not show eagerness to resolve our problems. We would vote for those this time who understand our sufferings”. They have faced myriad of problems because of illiteracy and remoteness, he said, complaining that the leaders turning up to their homes during elections have remained reluctant to serve them once they elected. BK further said that they had made the candidates winner in previous elections even when flood had rendered the entire Bhujikhola residents homeless. But, the elected people’s representatives did not come to apply ointment to their wounds, he commented. Leelmaya BK, another victim, said she would not cast her vote this time. “She may change her mind if any candidate come up with reliable plan to address their issues”, she added. But, voters this time would not be cheated from the candidates and parties, she further said. “I have voted the candidates several times. But, my village did not get anything in return. The pain and suffering of the fellow people here remained unsolved. We would vote only those who serve the helpless poor people in our village”. Neem Prakash BK who lost her wife and three children in floods said they would vote to the parties and candidates who come to address their demands. He voiced his complaint that no leader has come to relieve their pain when it has been over two years since the devastating flood had swept away his property and all members of the family. The continuous floods and landslides that occurred in Bhujikhola two years ago had took the lives of 38 people. Only 23 dead bodies were recovered while 15 missing have not been found. Floods and landslides had caused damages to 131 houses and taken away 11 hydro power house and canal, one health service unit, 11 suspension bridges, five cemented bridge, 10 suspension bridges and twos schools.

An Indian construction company has provided Rs 1.6 million in compensation to the family of a Nepali boy who died in the course of a road construction. An agreement to this effect took place among the Indian Garg & Garg Company, the Indian administration, members of the victim's family and local Nepali people's representatives. A representative from the construction company handed the amounts to the family of the victim amid a function here, said Chief District Officer Dirgharaj Upadhyay. A nine-year-old Nepali boy, Pawan Mahara, was killed after a stone hurled from an explosion made in the course of constructing a road in the Indian side hit him. He died on the spot. He along with his father, mother, brother and sister was walking on the banks of the Mahakali river opposite to the construction site in the Nepali territory when the incident occurred. The incident took place at Dumling of Byas Rural Municipality in Darchula district on Friday. "We were walking on the river banks when the incident occurred. Daughter Sarina was injured in the incident. She is taking treatment at the district hospital," said the deceased's father, Hikmat. "The construction company handed the compensation amounts. They will be deposited in a joint bank account of the deceased's father and mother on Monday when banks are open," he said. The compensation amounts would be used on the schooling of his children, he added. Meanwhile, the Nepali side has expressed its concern over the blasting carried out by the Indian side without warning. According to International practices, neighboring country (ies) should be informed about an explosion in the course of the construction of any physical structures along the international borders. But, the explosion by the Indian side was not informed beforehand, claimed the Nepali side. "Local administration of both parties should coordinate before an explosion at international borders," said CDO Upadhyay.