Jhapa: Voters returning from polling in Jhapa Constituency No. 5 were heard saying, “Whoever wins, the prime minister will come from Jhapa anyway.”
In Jhapa-5, this remark specifically referred to CPN-UML chairman and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, Balendra Sah. Both of them are viewed as potential prime ministerial contenders if their parties secure enough seats in Parliament.
“Young people are in favour of change. We had the privilege of casting our vote. We got the chance to choose not just a member of parliament, but also a prime minister,” says 28-year-old Sandesh Mote, adding, “We voted, and now whoever wins, the prime minister will be from Jhapa.” He had come from Kathmandu, emphasising the importance of every single vote.
86-year-old Sonnath Giri also said he voted to ensure that a candidate from Jhapa-5 would become prime minister.
“There should be a government of the people. It should stand by them in good times and bad. It should make governance easier,” he said.
62-year-old Sulochana Agrawal came to vote with her 96-year-old father and 92-year-old mother. She said she cast her vote in the hope that Jhapa would be represented by a prime minister.
“May it be good for the people. May it be good for whoever wins. May they have enough to eat. Whoever wins must build the country,” said several voters.
Krishna Mohan Sah (30) had come all the way from Norway just to cast his vote. He had gone abroad for studies four years ago and returned to Nepal a week ago.
“I live abroad. I came only to vote. I voted to support political stability,” he says. “Change doesn’t happen all at once, but policy reforms can take place.”
He hopes to return from Norway if there are employment opportunities in Nepal.
Suhagita Tajpuriya (70) said she voted for a candidate who would focus on local development.
“Problems like drinking water need to be solved. Villages must be taken care of,” she said.
Umesh Khadka (19) voted for the first time. He argued that the candidate he chose should address Gen Z demands.
“This is my first vote. I hope Gen Z doesn’t have to rebel again. Social media should not be blocked. Good governance should prevail. People shouldn’t have to leave the country,” he said.
Voters expressed hope that this election would bring a wave of change. “May this be the start of a new era in the country,” said 70-year-old Mohan Bahadur Paudel.
Laxmi Sah (18), voting for the first time, had registered her name in the voters’ list after the Gen Z movement.
“I believe now things will happen according to the spirit of the Gen Z movement,” she said.
Sadiksha Rai (18) and Roda Rai (22) voted, hoping to be able to work in Nepal.
“We want to work here in the country. We don’t want to have to go abroad,” they said.
Onlinekhabar spoke with voters at polling centres, including Bani Secondary School, Kamal Rural Municipality-6, Shree Prithvi Secondary School, Damak Municipality-7, and Saraswati Secondary School, Damak-9.
During conversations, some voters also demanded access to citizenship certificates and land ownership documents. They requested solutions to squatter problems, quality education, and better health services.
Polling, which began at 7 am, continued smoothly and concluded at 5 pm, according to Election Officer Bidur Karki.
There are 163,379 registered voters in this area, including 81,081 men, 82,296 women, and 2 classified as other.
According to the District Administration Office, Jhapa, a total of 106,372 individuals cast their votes in Jhapa-5, representing 65.11 percent of the constituency’s registered voters.
There are 185 polling centres and 61 polling sites in the area. Kamal Rural Municipality includes wards 1–7, with 40,786 voters. Gauradaha Municipality wards 1–8 have 41,475 voters. Gauriganj Rural Municipality wards 3–6 have 15,121 voters. Damak Municipality wards 1–10 have 65,997 voters.
Alongside Oli and Balendra, 24 candidates are contesting in this constituency. From the Nepali Congress, Mandhara Chimariya is contesting, while Ranjit Tamang represents the Nepali Communist Party.
Other candidates include Sameer Tamang of the Shram Sanskriti Party, Laxmi Prasad Sangroula of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, San Bahadur Meche of the Mongol National Organization, Sushant Sampang Rai of the Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Manch, Amri Llal Mahato of Janamat Party, Dhiren Subba of the Janata Samajbadi Party, Padam Bahadur Jawegu of Nepal Janmukti Party, Sabin Rai of the Rastriya Pariwartan Party, Sanjay Rai of Nepal Communist Party (Maoist), and Amrit Rasaili Dharma Raj Guragain of the Rastriya Mukti Party Nepal.
There are also nine independent candidates, including Dambar Shahu, Khemnath Shiwakoti, Matrika Bhattarai, Ranjana Gautam, Shobha Bhandari, Prakash Nepal, Arjun Sapkota, Bipul Guragain, and Pushkar Khatiwada
