M E C H I | K O S H I | S A G A R M A T H A | J A N A K P U R | B A G M A T I | N A R AYA N I | G A N D A K I | D H A U L A G I R I |

LUMBINI | RAPTI | BHERI | KARNALI |

SETI | MAHAKALI

Page 6

Nepalvotes
My presence will help CA deliver new constitution
Keshav P Koirala
Kathmandu, October 28
When he took part in the democratic movement in 1990, he was just 13, and he had already made his foray into politics! Not many knew then Gagan Thapa would emerge as an indefatigable politician, would make his place in Nepals politics that usually revolved around old leaders and would carve a niche for himself. A politically aware youngster, who is often affectionately called by his first name, stirred up political landscape when he made it to the CA in 2008 under PR system from the Nepali Congress. Now 37, he is eying yet another victory from Kathmandu Constituency No 4 this time under first-past-the-post system. With the passing years, his belief that he can bring a change but has grown stronger. He spent his formative years participating in student politics at Trichandra Campus and becoming a member of Nepal Students Union in 1992. Maybe politics was in his blood, or maybe politics overwhelmed him... Eleven years down the line, in 2003, he was already the general secretary of NSU in 2003. And then there was no looking back. Gagan is sharp, energetic and has got the gift of the gab. He became a rallying figure when the political atmosphere was at its boiling point in the wake of the

The Himalayan Times

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

C O N S T I T U E N T A S S E M B LY E L E C T I O N S 2 0 1 3
royal takeover of February 1, 2005. He had by then emerged as the frontline republican voice in the Nepali Congress, which was still hemming and hawing as to which to choose constitutional monarchy or republicanism. Two years in the CA. The assembly was moving at a snails pace, but that did not deter Gagan from keeping his voice loud, clear and audible. In the party, he was elected NCs central member in 2010 by winning the largest number of votes a testimony to the fact that youth were being seen as the future of Nepali politics. Cut to 2013. He is busy organising door-to-door campaigns. He envisages an office of the MP in his constituency to listen to the concerns of locals and bridge the gap between voters and their representative.

CONSTITUENCY-4 AT A GLANCE

OMNIUM-GATHERUM
DAO ban on carrying sticks, knives
ILAM: Ilam District Administration Office has banned people from carrying sticks, knives, spears, among others, while going to public places or attending meetings and gatherings. The DAO made such a decision in view of the upcoming CA elections.

Total voters: 56,887 KMC Wards: 1, 7, 8, 33 VDCs: Kapan, Mahankal, Chapali, Chunikhel

THT

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL: GAGAN THAPA

People have infrastructure and development issues. To address these, if elected, I plan to set up a separate office, he says. Often praised as a youth icon and a leader with great potential, Gagan gets excited when elderly voters, who say it is high time young leaders replaced the old ones, pin hopes on him. The election, however, would test his popularity. He is pitted against Nirmal Kuinkel of CPNUML and Nanda Kishor Pun of UCPN-Maoist. With former CA member Suprabha Ghimire, who

quit NC expressing dissatisfaction over Gagans nomination, as an independent candidate from the same constituency, this firebrand young leader has certainly some work to do. But he is confident and optimistic. People do acknowledge my role and the contributions I made as a CA member, and they do understand my experience would be useful in the new CA to write a new constitution, he says. He looks forward to using his good and openminded rapport with the potential lawmakers from other parties, who he worked with in the cross-party forum in the past, and his solutionseeking approach during negotiations in the CA. Young leaders would explore areas where parties can be flexible to help break the imminent political deadlock, he says. Where does he see Nepal five years down the line? Nepal will have its new constitution in a year and witness significant changes in economy in the rest of the years, he says.

Failed attempt to set Koiralas vehicle on fire

NEPALGUNJ: Two masked men on a motorcycle on Monday made a failed attempt to set Nepali Congress President Sushil Koiralas vehicle on fire in Banke. According to police, the vehicle was parked near party office in Surkhet Road. They fled as Koirala locals saw them sprinkling petrol and trying to set the vehicle afire, said DSP Prem Bahadur Basnet, adding locals immediately doused the fire. Police said they were investigating into the incident. Meanwhile, a bomb was found at CPN-UMLs constituency office in Tilakpur in Nawalparasi on Monday morning. A Nepali Army team defused the bomb.

OFFBEAT

Water bottle campaign fails to hold water

Himalayan News Service Nepalgunj, October 28 In Banke, a candidate has found a new way of campaigning. A bottled water manufacturer, it seems, has struck a business-cumpolitical deal with Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Partys Rajendra Bir Ray. Bottles of Supreme Mineral water brand have been found with labels with the picture of Ray who is contesting from Banke Constituency No 1. The bottles with election publicity labels have been stored at the godown of the water company. Banke Chief Election Officer Om Prakash Devkota confirmed that such bottles had been used for election campaign. He added that his office would look into the case and take action against the company and the candidate, it is against the election code of conduct. Ray may have tried to do some innovative campaigning, but there seems to be some technical glitch. His surname in the labels have been misspelt Rai instead of Ray. Nonetheless, this is not going to make any difference. Rays water bottle publicity bid wont work as the election office is all set to throw cold water on his innovative plan.

MJF-D manifesto makes a pitch for 10-Pradesh model

Himalayan News Service
Kathmandu, October 28
The Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic today unveiled its election manifesto, proposing 10-Pradhes model including two federal units autonomous Madhes Pradesh and autonomous Tharuhat Pradesh in Tarai and eight in hill. This model has made the identity and power as major bases and it will address peoples aspirations, says the 30-page manifesto made public by MJF-D today. As MJF-D Chairman Bijay Kumar Gachhadar was busy in election campaign in his home district, party General Secretary Jitendra Dev unveiled the document. The party has defined federalism as the sharing of rights between centre and Pradesh governments. On identity, the MJF-D says, We will make attempts and strive to ensure the identity of all languages, cultures and dresses of all Nepalis. The party has proposed improved inclusive parliamentary democratic system as forms of governance.

NC candidates vehicle meets with accident

ILAM: A vehicle used by Nepali Congress central member and CA election candidate from Ilam Constituency No 3 under PR category Sujata Pariyar met with an accident at Maikhola on Sunday night. Pariyar, along with her party activists, was on her way to Ilam municipality from Namasaling after campaigning for the election in the region. The vehicle had fallen off the road. Everyone has been reported to be safe.

UCPN-M men attack Congress cadres

NUWAKOT: Three Nepali Congress cadres were injured when Unified CPNMaoist men attacked them in Nuwakot on Sunday night. NC Nuwakot district secretary Ramesh Mahat and his team were attacked in Gaunkharka VDC. According to Mahat, a group of around 25 UCPN-M cadres led by former YCL in-charge Rajan Gautam attacked them while they were sleeping. The team on the day had campaigned in the village that falls under Constituency No 2 from where NCs Ram Sharan Mahat is contesting the election under FPTP. According to Mahat, the UCPNM cadres also abducted two NC cadres Tapendrasingh Tamang and Ruplal Tamang of Betini-5. NC cadre Nur Bahadur Tamang has been injured in the attack. He has got bruises all over his body. Other NC cadres Sahadev Upreti and Achyut Acharya were also injured.

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Manoj Kumar Shrestha/ THT

Locals performing a cultural dance during an election mass meeting organised by the Unified CPN-Maoist in Salleri, the district headquarters of Solu, on Monday.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

THE PADDY CROP WAS READY FOR HARVEST, AND THE HAILSTORM DESTROYED IT. I AM GOING TO ASK ALL THE ELECTION CANDIDATES TO FIRST LOBBY FOR GETTING US COMPENSATED BEFORE SEEKING VOTES FROM US
SETE KUMAL, MAJHGAUN, SALYANTAR, DHADING

Leaders sowing publicity seeds to reap votes

Jeeban Sejuwal
Mugu, October 28
Its harvesting season in Karnali, one of the most neglected regions, with people here often heard complaining that the state has completely failed to address its concerns. Nonetheless, with every election, people pin hopes on leaders and parties and they vote. Locals in Dolpa, Jumla, Kalikot, Mugu and Humla these days are reaping their fields and leaders are busy sowing publicity campaign seeds to reap votes. Compared to other districts, the influence of poll-opposing parties, including the CPN-Maoist, is relatively stronger in Mugu and Kalikot, which is likely to affect the Unified CPN-Maoists election campaign as well poll results. In Humla, 11 parties have fielded candidates, but real competition is likely to be between UCPN-Ms Chhakka Bahadur Lama, Nepali Congress Jeevan Shahi and CPN-UMLs Dal Rawal. There are 22,116 registered voters in Humla. Shahi lost the last election to a Maoist candidate. CPN-Ms presence is negligible in the district but non-Maoist parties believe UCPN-M votes will be affected. In Mugu, there are 23,818 voters and 17 parties have fielded candidates. NCs Ain Bahadur Shahi and UMLs Mohan Baniya will have a tough competition. However, the challenge from the UCPN-M and Akhand Nepal Party

IN THE ZONE: KARNALI

cannot be ignored. UCPN-Ms Sukabir Budha, also a former PLA commander, is also in the fray, but his campaigns have been hampered by the CPN-M. In Jumla, Satya Pahadi, NCs Suresh Shahi, UMLs Dhan Bahadur Budha and UMLs rebel candidate Angat Budha. There are 14,815 voters. But for voters to reach upper Dolpa, it

| PR PERCENTAGE |
(2008)

TOTAL PR VOTES: 168,506

which is home to 47,438 voters, 10 political parties have registered their candidates. This time, NC has chosen Lalitjung Shahi as its candidate. The competition is expected to revolve around NCs Shahi, UCPN-Ms Gajendra Mahat and UMLs Padam Rokaya. In Dolpa, the battle line has been drawn between UCPN-Ms

takes five to seven days, so some speculate that there could be less voting. In Kalikot, UCPN-Ms former division commander Mahendra Shahi, NCs Bhupendra Jung Shahi and UMLs Kurma Raj Shahi will be the leaders to watch. CPN-Ms clout is stronger here, so only 40,000-45,000 votes are expected to be cast here. The district has 53,539 voters. CPN-Ms presence is also going to affect UCPN-M votes. Hasta Bahadur Malla, Bhakta Rokaya and Dilli Mahat from Karnali region have held state ministerial portfolios whereas Prem Bahadur Singh and Satya Pahadi have become ministers. But the voters accuse the leaders of failing to raise Karnali issues in the centre. With the CPN-M upping its ante in Kalikot and Mugu and announcing poll boycott campaigns, the government has identified these two districts sensitive areas. CPN-M central member Mangal Shahi said that his party had launched an election boycott campaign in all five districts of Karnali.

REGIONWISE
DISTRICT Humla Mugu Jumla Dolpa Kalikot NO OF VOTERS 22,116 23,818 47,438 14,815 53,539 PARTIES IN FRAY 11 17 10 11 20

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Sete Kumal, 76, of Majhgaun in Salyantar VDC sharing his plight as he shows the paddy crop that was destroyed by Sunday nights hailstorm, in Dhading, on Monday.

Nur Bahadur Tamang, a Nepali Congress cadre, showing the bruises he suffered in an attack by UCPN-M cadres on Sunday in Nuwakot, on Monday.