Tanahu, November 19:

Tea shops in Damauli have been drawing a huge number of local political leaders, cadres, rights activists, intellectuals and other members of the civil society. These people discuss politics over tea and snacks.

While Nepali Congress Tanahu district vice-president Nil Bahadur Thapa was ordering tea for himself at a local tea shop, district president of the party Raghunath Poudel also dropped in. NC leaders Udayraj Gauli, Govinda Dhakal, Bednath Kaini, teachers, journalists, intellectuals, lawyers, human right activists and members of the civil society poured in at the tea shop and began a discussion on national and global politics. This was a glimpse of this morning’s goings-on at the Langghali Hotel in Byas-10 of Damauli.

Leaders and cadres of political parties drop in at the Hotel for tea from 7 to 9 am, a source at the hotel said.

Saying that good political interactions take place in the Hotel during tea time, NC district president Poudel said, “Here, it’s easy to meet party cadres from villages and discuss political issues.”

“I could not come here when I fell ill. Otherwise, I drop in at the Hotel every day,” Poudel said.

“During tea time, we offer suggestions to political leaders and appreciate their good deeds,” NC working committee secretary of Mirlung village Govinda Dhakal said. “Everyday gathering of party leaders and cadres keeps me updated with national and global politics,” proprietor of the Langghali Hotel, Ram Bahadur Ale, said.

Proprietor of the Him Shikhar Hotel in Byas-2 Meena Sapkota said leaders of all political parties, including the NC, CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist), Jana Morcha Nepal, RPP and the Rastriya Janashakti Party come to her hotel every day for tea. Campus teachers, schoolteachers and students also come for tea every day. NC leader Satish Chandra Neupane, a regular visitor, says, “ We discuss national politics in the hotel every day.”

“ It’s good to talk politics with morning tea,” says Hari Kandel, a UML leader.

“I drop in for tea when I see people from all walks of life flocking the hotel,” says Dr Ishwor Chandra Wagle.