As the country goes to vote on May 14, Sunita Lohani catches up with celebrities who share their excitement  about this election, their aspirations from it, and why it is important for all eligible citizens to vote

The country is holding the local level elections after 20 years. All Nepalis are all ready to choose the guardians of their wards, villages, and cities, and among them are some of our celebrities. As Nepal votes to choose leaders who will be working at the local level, these celebrities share their excitement about

the polls, while recalling memories of previous elections.

Election excitement

Veteran Nepali actor, comedian and writer Hari Bansha Acharya once played the role of Woda Adakshya (ward president) in the hit TV series Kantipur. And today he is ready to choose his local leader in this civic polls.

He pointed out, “We have not elected local leaders for the last two decades and it has immensely affected the development of our villages and cities. Even when the devastating 2015 earthquake destroyed our properties and claimed lives of thousands, the local bodies were parentless. We see development works going on in villages, but they lack quality as there is no one to monitor them.”

Acharya, who will cast his vote from Bhaktapur district, calls this local level elections “more important than the parliamentary elections” because “we are going to choose the guardians of our homes

or towns”.

One of the busiest actresses at present, Priyanka Karki is also all excited about the civic polls. “I am happy that we are getting an opportunity to elect our local leaders in 20 years,” Karki expressed happily, adding, “So, I’m going to vote early in the morning with my parents.” Karki is a voter from Kathmandu district.

Singer and composer Kali Prasad Baskota was 18 years old when he voted for the first time. “I was young and didn’t know anything about the candidates then. I thought it (elections) would be fun. We (my friends and I) were excited and we cast our votes following in the others’ footsteps,” stated Baskota, who will be voting in the local elections for the first time too.

“I’m going to vote in the local elections for the first time and I’m excited,” the voter from Kirtipur shared his excitement.

The Saili composer, who is in his late 30s, now knows what type of candidates he wants to win. “I will choose a good candidate, over party,” he revealed his preference and repeated the line that is trending on social media these days — “Hamralai Hoina Ramralai Vote Diun (Let’s vote for the right candidate rather than for own people).”

Singer Yogeshwor Amatya too is ready to vote for “the right candidates” from Kathmandu district. He shared, “This (Kathmandu) is the Capital City for other people, but it is my village. And I am going to choose candidates who will develop my village.”

So he does not care about “the age or education of candidates”. He added, “I will vote for those who

love my village and work passionately to develop it.”

Though most celebrities are familiar with the voting experience, it will be first time for cricketer Gyanendra Malla. He is voting for the first time in any election. “Earlier, either I was outside or couldn’t get time to register my name on the voters’ list.”

This time, he is all set to elect his desired candidates. “I’m going to vote for such candidates who are willing to develop my town,” said the right-handed batsman.

Previous experiences

Acharya voted for the first time in 1979, during the national referendum. And he claimed to have used his wisdom to vote then.

“I was aware what kind of system I wanted. It was easy as we had to choose between two colours — yellow (Panchayat System) and blue (Multi-party System),” shared the Haribahadur author.

But it is not easy this time as per Acharya, who complained, “There are many symbols of different parties on the ballot paper this time. It is long and difficult to identify the desired symbols also. It is difficult for educated people, what can I say about the uneducated? The Government should have taught about the voting process at least four months ago, because it is an important election for us.”

Amatya has an interesting memory to share about one such election he participated in. The Jaba Sandhya Hunchha singer doesn’t recall the date of the polls, but shared, “We went to vote at Jana Prabhat High School, Kalimati, our voting centre. After the poll was over, the election officers prepared to take back the ballot boxes. But then a fight occurred between two political parties — both sides threw stones at each other. I was an active member of Megadut Boxing Club and was volunteering then. So, I consoled the fighting groups — they were residents of our town — and one of the wounded boys was taken to the hospital.”

Why vote

Karki voted for the first time in the elections for the Second Constituent Assembly. “I was equally excited then, and so I voted. However, the leaders we chose then disappointed us,” the Chakka Panja actress complained.

Yet she wants people to cast  their votes and use their voting rights. Why?

“I know we didn’t get a stable government in the past. But to develop our country we must use our voting rights and try to choose the best.

We must choose the candidates who are better with their actions rather than words.”

When most people are voting on May 14, there are still some who are not interested to vote. Addressing such people, the How Funny actress urged, “I understand the frustration of people. But we should not forget that by exercising our right to vote, we are electing people and those elected ones will fulfil our dreams. And it is not a matter of joke to let someone rule the country and us. So, we must use our right.”

Agreeing with Karki, Acharya said, “It (Voting) is the exercise of democracy. If you are not using your right, then it is like breaking your own legs. And there is a high chance that wrong candidates will win if you do not vote. Animals can’t vote because they don’t have wisdom. But we are humans and we have that capacity to choose the right candidates.”

Amatya opined, “If you avoid the right to vote, then someone else might misuse your right, and vote in your place, which is also wrong.”

Malla also urged the public to use their voting rights. “We must do our job — choosing the right candidates by casting our vote.”

Sadly, actor and social worker Sitaram Kattel aka Dhurmus won’t be able to vote this time as his name hasn’t been enlisted on voters’ list.

“We (Dhurmus and his wife actress Kunjana Ghimire ‘Suntali’) couldn’t register our names on the voters’ list as both of us were busy making houses for earthquake victims. However, I’m excited and hope the right candidates will be elected.”

And he urged the public to use their rights and choose good representatives for the local bodies.