TIKAPUR, Nov 2: In order to compete in the upcoming parliamentary elections, both the left and right alliances have fielded women candidates in constituency-1 in Kailali. The left alliance has picked woman leader of CPN-UML Madan Kumari Shah (Garima) while the 'democratic' alliance has picked Nepali Congress (NC) leader Ishwori Neupane for the post.
Shah was chosen as a central committee member of CPN-UML from the eighth National Convention of the party. In the Constituent Assembly elections in 2008, she was defeated in the same area but she secured victory in the CA elections in 2013. Shah, who has served her prime years in politics, has made Tikapur as a base of her politics.
Similarly, the democratic alliance candidate Neupane has also earned a reputation of a popular woman leader in the district. She is a central committee member of the party and has also been elected as people's representative under the proportional representation category. This is the first time she is contesting in an election. It has been learnt that NC President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba decided to field Neupane to solve the internal conflict within the party. All members of NC have shown their consent with the decision taken by Deuba.
Beating the odds and gender stereotypes
With not much time left for the polls, locals have started making speculations regarding the elections. Voters expect a tough competition between Neupane and Shah. However, predicting the winner has been really challenging for them due to the recently forged alliance between various parties.
In the recently held local elections, CPN-UML candidate was elected as the mayor while NC candidate bagged the post of deputy mayor in Tikapur Municipality. Similarly, NC emerged victorious in Joshipur Rural Municipality and Nepal Democratic Forum won in Janaki Rural Municipality. As per the locals, it won't be right to predict the winners in accordance to the results of the local elections.
"If I win the elections, I will particularly dedicate myself to the works that lead to economic prosperity of Tikapur," said Shah. She is also determined to develop Tikapur as a tourism hub. Not just that, she is also planning to reduce unemployment rate in the municipality.
On the other hand, Neupane is all set to enhance cultural diversity in Tikapur. She wants to make this place a common garden of all castes and communities by eradicating discrimination based on caste, race and ethnicity. She said, "Unity is power," adding, "Our unity will lead us toward the path of economic prosperity."
