Polls uncertain in once Maoist heartland?

LIWANG (ROLPA), NOV 16 -

 

UCPN (Maoist) leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara is busy visiting voters’ doorsteps at his home constituency in Rolpa, seeking their support in Tuesday’s Constituent Assembly ( CA ) elections.

People in Rolpa, which served as the epicentre of the 10-year-long Maoist insurgency, had elected Mahara in the 2008 elections. Will Mahara repeat his victory in Rolpa-1? It remains a question. Public support for the UCPN (Maoist) in Rolpa dropped significantly after the party split. The Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist dominates the district, and political analysts say the mother party has a tough race in the district this time.

The CPN-Maoist has already made its poll intentions clear—to thwart the process by any means. In Thawang, the wartime headquarters of the Maoists, the Baidya Maoists are planning to deploy cadres in polling stations on election day to bar people from voting. The region remains untouched and unaffected by election-related activities so far. 

In such a situation, even candidates from other political parties doubt election will take place in Rolpa at all.

Meanwhile, Mahara’s supporters insist his stature in national politics alone is enough to guarantee him a victory. “We are working hard to convince voters to participate in the election and elect him,” said Rishiram Roka, Mahara’s campaign committee member.

Mahara, too, is spending his time interacting with local CPN-Maoist activists and leaders, and seeking their support.

Despite the efforts being made by Mahara and his supporters, the CPN-Maoist seems resolute on impeding the November 19 election. The party has deployed its central leaders like Netra Bikram Chand and Kul Prasad KC in the district to lead the anti-election campaign. Every other day, party activists organise rallies in places like Thawang, Jelwang, Bhawang, Bhagam, Jaimakasala, Uwa and Harjang to discourage people from voting. Around 3,000 party supporters have reportedly fanned across the district to foil the election.

“People themselves are against the election. The boycott is certain,” said Kesh Bahadur Batha Magar, the CPN-Maoist district in-charge.  

The Baidya-led CPN-Maoist has built a wall around its dominant area and warned other parties from conducting election-related activities. A few weeks earlier, campaigners of the UCPN (Maoist) Rolpa-2 candidate, Onsari Gharti Magar, were attacked and chased away from Thawang.

The government has recognised Rolpa as a ‘highly sensitive’ district in terms of security. Chief District Officer Mahadev Pant said around 3,000 security personnel have been mobilised to ensure a violence-free election. 

The pre-election atmosphere here, however, makes one wonder how the authorities will hold the polls and what size the voters’ turnout is going to be.