Dhangadi, November 30

Candidates contesting the upcoming elections have focused their campaign on issues of Tharus in the hope of winning in Kailali. The indigenous community make up a large chunk of the population in the district.

All candidates are trying to take Tharu voters into confidence by assuring them that, if elected, they will work towards uplifting the socio-economic status of the community, according to Ram Dulari Chaudhary of Kailari Rural Municipality-4.

“Now we have become more important to them than they are to us due to the upcoming elections. They have pledged employment, road, bridges and agriculture and tourism development for us,” said Bir Bahadur Chaudhary, a leader of the Tharu community.

Local voters said the candidates have also promised to protectall their rights and their cultural identity.

However, the candidates have not focused much on agenda of the past Tharuhat movement.

During his door-to-door campaign in the freed Kamaiya settlement earlier, the left allianceparliamentary candidate from Kailali Constituency No 5, Naradmuni Rana assured Tharu community members of rehabilitation. NC’s Arzu Rana Deuba is also contesting the parliamentary election from the constituency.

The government had freed Kamaiyas in 2000.  As per government data, of 9,810 freed Kamaiya families in Kailali, 707 households are yet to be rehabilitated.

A total of 41 candidates, including 12 contestants from the Tharu community, from various political parties are vying for the parliamentary seat in the district.

There are a total of five parliamentary constituencies and 460,568 voters in the district.