SARLAHI, MARCH 2 While candidates across Sarlahi constituencies are campaigning hard to keep their votes, electorates in Sarlahi Constituencies 3 and 4 appeared to be solid in their support for senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Balendra Shah (Balen). Chandra Shekhar Prasad Shah, 65, a voter in Sarlahi Constituency-4, stated that 75 per cent of the vote in this constituency is for Ghanti, the RSP's election symbol. 'We will vote for Balen rather than any other candidate in this constituency,' he stated. He sounded confident while saying so. However, he was not alone. Raj Kishor Singh, 79, a retired teacher, argued that the RSP chose a good candidate in this constituency. 'But if he wins, it will be due to Balen.' Amresh Singh, who joined the RSP in January, is running for Sarlahi Constituency-4 against Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa. The main competition is likely to be between these two heavyweight candidates, but Amanish Kumar Yadav, a CPN-UML candidate, is also expected to receive a significant number of votes, according to locals. According to locals, Yadav is likely to receive Yadav cluster votes, which total over 10,000 in this constituency. 'But he is going to finish third in the election. The first and second competitions are between the Nepali Congress and the RSP,' stated Indra Bhusan Singh, a resident of Balara village in Saralahi-4. The problem of sugarcane farmers is real in this area. Farmers were previously paid on time, but Amanish's father Shivpujan and Birendra Singh have caused them distress by relocating the sugarcane measuring station in the area. 'Farmers are not paid on time in Nepal. This time they sold their sugarcane in Riga Sugar Mill, India. This is a big loss to Nepal,' said Indra Bhusan Singh. However, it is difficult to predict who will win in the current situation, but there are a lot of votes for Balen here, according to a group that shared their observations with THT. When asked why they are voting for Balen here, they said, 'He is an honest and determined person. Additionally, he is the son of Madhes.' They also stated that money matters in this constituency. Several top cadres from various parties are switching parties. 'It is all a game of money and power,' they said. 'Some are promised mayoral tickets, while others are given powerful positions within the party.' Rambabu Das, 57, another Sarlahi-4 voter, stated, 'Ghanti is in my heart and mind because of Balen. We must make him win. We are done with traditional forces,' he said. Munil Yadav, 24, stated that he supports Balen but will vote proportional representation for him but first-past-the-post for another candidate, most likely Amnish of the CPN-UML or Gagan Thapa of NC. Jinish Lal Chaudhary shared that he is supporting Gagan Thapa. 'Whatever development has been done in this constituency is due to the Nepali Congress. This time the president of the Nepali Congress himself is contesting here. He will make this constituency paradise. As a result, Gagan is winning this time with an overwhelming majority.' When asked, how? He responded that this constituency has always been a stronghold for the Nepali Congress since the time of Mahantha Thakur. Even Amresh Singh won two times continuously in this constituency, once on a Nepali Congress ticket and the last time (2022 general election) independently. 'However, his contribution to the development of this constituency is minimal, and people are frustrated with him. Whatever votes he receives this time will be attributed to Balen,' he stated. 'But Gagan has Nepali Congress organisational power support, various caste cluster votes, and his popularity as a young leader and president of the Nepali Congress, so he will win this election.' He also argued that the Balen wave has sparked debates here, but young people who do not have voter IDs are supporting him. However, the Nepali Congress has 50 per cent of the vote here. 'Other political parties, including RSP, CPN-UML, and the Janata Samajwadi Party-Nepal, account for the remaining 50 per cent.' Shambhu Yadav, 40, a Sarlahi Constituency-4 voter, admitted that he previously voted for Shivpujan. 'However, I am voting for Balen this time. There are eight votes in my family, and all for Ghanti this time,' he admitted. 'This is the phenomenon in Sarlahi, whether it's Constituency 3 or 4. They would tell you anything, but internally voters have already decided who to vote for-Balen.' Narendra Sah is running for Sarlahi Constituency-3 on an RSP ticket. Despite his apparent relentless campaigning, voters appeared to be rooting for him because of Balen. Soniya Devi, a Sarlahi-3 voter, stated that she will vote for Balen regardless of who else is running. 'Balen will become prime minister,' she announced. According to Jay Narayan Yadav, Narendra Sah has gained popularity due to the Balen craze in Sarlahi. 'He ran in the last two elections but lost both. He has a good chance thanks to Balen,' he told THT. Birendra Yadav claimed that the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) and the RSP have a chance this time in the Sarlahi-3 constituency. Narayan Kaji Shrestha is a top Maoist leader. 'After Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Shrestha is the leader I think of in the party,' he said. Yadav has been campaigning alongside Shrestha. He previously served as the ward chairperson for Barahathawa Municipality 12. Narendra Sah, the RSP candidate for Sarlahi-3, told THT, 'I don't believe in speeches. I am a doer.' According to him, the primary issues in this constituency continue to be basic, such as education, health care, and roads. Raj Kewal Yadav stated that he previously voted for the Janata Swamajwadi Party-Nepal, but changed his mind due to Balen. He added that if Narendra Sah wins this election, it will be because of Balen's craze. 'Otherwise, it's an extremely difficult constituency for people like him to win,' he admitted. 'Due to the political organisation of traditional forces and caste clusters.' Birendra Ram, a Sarlahi-3 voter who recently returned from Mumbai where he works, believes Balen should win for us. 'I came all the way from Mumbai to vote. Balen is both young and dynamic. I hope he will do better for us so that we can make a living here in Nepal.' Surendra Singh added that the enthusiasm of Gen Z youth has inspired him to accept the change. Previously, he was an active member of the Nepali Congress. 'I accepted the change and am campaigning in line with youth demands,' he told THT.