Bhaktapur, March 26:

Thanks to the lack of education and political awareness, women of Changu Narayan VDC do not know what the constituent assembly is all about. They said they will take advice from their husbands and cast votes.

A number of women of Changu Narayan VDC, which is part of constituency no. 1 in Bhaktapur, said they do not know a thing about the CA polls. They criticised past leaders for doing nothing for them, but promised to cast votes.

Gyani Khadka, a 40-year old woman from Changu Narayan VDC-3, said none of the parties have visited her home, seeking votes. “I don’t know which party I should vote,” Khadka said, adding, “It is our responsibility to vote in the CA polls. I will take advice from male members of my family and vote.”

A Shrestha woman of ward no. 1 said she even does not know whether her name is on the voters’ list. She said, “Our neighbours stare at us with suspicion when we chat with outsiders.”

“The candidates are yet to arrive at our home,” she said, adding, “Party cadres came to our village and talked about their parties. They did not tell us what the constituent assembly meant.”

Shanta Maya Shrestha of ward no. 1 said she does not have time to stay at home and listen to political parties.

She said, “I do not know which party is trustworthy. On the Election Day, I will ask my husband which party I should vote.” Bishwo Prasad Pokhrel of ward no. 8, who teaches in the Balbhakta Primary School, said, “Due to the lack of education, the women of Changu Narayan VDC have to depend on their husbands to take decisions.”

He said there is a tough competition between the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and the Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party. As the CPN (Maoist) also has a strong presence in Changu Narayan village development committee, it is really difficult to predict the result, he said.