Political parties ready for election day

Rajbiraj, September 14

As the date for the scheduled third round of civic polls nears, political parties in Rajbiraj have launched the last leg of election campaign to secure victory in one of the oldest municipalities in the country.

Though a total of 12 candidates have thrown their hats into the mayoral ring in the municipality, a four-way battle is expected among candidates of Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal, CPN-MC, CPN-UML and Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal.

RJPN’s Shambhu Yadav, CPN-MC’s Anis Ansari, UML’s Sukharam Yadav and FSF-N’s Bhimraj Yadav are in the fray.

Chances are said to be high for the UML candidate, who defected from the FSF-N quite recently, given his involvement in the Madhes agitation and connection with the erstwhile party and the hill community it appealed to. The party has mobilised its central leaders to turn voters in its favour.

Similarly, CPN-MC’s chairperson and former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal was here for two days to canvass for his party candidate, who is already a candidate to reckon with.

Meanwhile, while the Yadav community, which accounts for 20 per cent voters of the total electorate of the town, seems to be confused as to whom to vote for in the upcoming election as three of the candidates are from the same community, experts are now talking of the chances of the CPN-MC’s candidate.

“As he is the only mayoral candidate representing the Muslim community, which makes up 11 per cent of the total electorate of the town, there are chances that he could win over his community’s vote, and thus securing victory,” said a local.

Speaking about his election agenda, UML candidate Sukhiram said he was committed to the development of the historic town. He is also the chairperson of Civil Newtork Saptari.

Similarly, while RJP-N candidate Shambhu Yadav is a leader then Sadbhawana Party-aligned student forum, FSF-N candidate Bhimraj Yadav had defected from then Sadbhawana Party about two months ago. He is also a brick and construction entrepreneur.