SIRAHA, SEPT 15: Once known for its prosperity, Aaurahi Rural Municipality, an area surrounded by Galtho to the east, Gaagan to the south and Sahaja River to the west in the district has now become an epitome of underdevelopment. In absence of proper health facilities, people in this rural municipality are compelled to go to either Lahan or the Indian town of Darbhanga for medical treatment. Students willing to pursue higher studies have to go to Siraha, Lahan, Golbazaar or Mirchaiya.
"Works to build a primary health facility have stalled for the last two decades. The last two decades passed without much development works," said Birendra Sharma, a local.
But Sharma is optimistic that the stalled development works including the construction of the primary health facility will take pace with the election of the chief of the rural municipality.
Like Sharma, voters said that they would be voting for the candidates who can meet their aspiration for development. The rural municipality is set to go to polls on September 18 together with many other local units in the eight districts of Province 2.
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"I have made up my mind to vote for a young chief who is committed to developing this rural municipality," said Ram Binaya Singh. He said that the new local unit chief should work to ensure basic facilities like road, drainage, health facilities and electricity.
Realizing the aspirations of the voters, both the national and regional parties have made development their main agenda for the election. Locals said that the village is likely to witness a tri-angular contest among Federal Socialist Forum Nepal, Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Center).
NC has fielded Subash Yadav as its candidate for the chief of the rural municipality, while FSFN and Maoist Center has given their tickets to Shivaji Yadav and Siddhartha Yadav, respectively. Siddhartha, who comes from the family of a local landlord, has fielded his candidacy from the Maoist Center after he was denied ticket by his party.
"It is going to be a close race among the candidates of NC, FSFN and Maoist Center," said a local media person. All the three parties have fielded their mayoral candidate from the Yadav caste although it's a mixed settlement of Yadav, Singh, Mushahar, Chamar and Dom.
Like in Aaurahi, development remains the biggest elections agenda in Dhangadimai Municipality of the district.
"There is a widespread consent among voters that a pro-development candidate should be elected in this local election," said Shridevi Chaudhary of Dhangadimai Municipality.
NC, Maoist Center and UML have been seen as the frontrunners in the municipality.
"All three candidates are equally popular here. So we don't know who will win. Whoever wins, we are hoping that he would work for the development of this village," said Gangaram Yadav, a resident.
