JHAPA: March 5, Thursday, under the scorching afternoon sun. A scene at the polling station of the Road Division Office in Damak Municipality-6, Jhapa Constituency No. 5, was capturing everyone’s attention. Fifty years old Mobin Thebe was helping his 78-year-old disabled mother, Mohan Kumari Thebe, cast her vote by placing her in a wheelchair.

Although she was physically unable to walk, Mohan Kumari had a strong desire—to cast her vote with her own hands. Her son fulfilled his mother’s wish.

“My mother cannot walk, but I brought her here to fulfill her wish,” Mobin said. “After the Gen Z movement, elections were held ahead of schedule in the country. Now, I hope corruption will end and good governance will be established.”

Jhapa-5 has now become the political ‘epicenter’ of the country. On the one hand, there is the three-decade-long legacy of CPN (UML) Chairman and former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, while on the other hand, there is the ‘craze’ for Balendra Shah, senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and an idol among the youth. The competition between these two forces has turned this constituency into a battle of prestige. However, for the ordinary voters at the polling station, their basic needs and the country’s future seem more important than winning or losing.

Voters of Gaurigunj.

Nirmal Tiwari of Damak-6 was also seen outside the polling station. He, too, emphasized the issue of good governance. Meanwhile, 66-year-old Jhuma Devi Yadav from Gauriganj-6 appeared a little hurried as she left Khajurgachi Secondary School polling station after casting her vote. “I was a bit nervous after realizing how much impact one vote can have in choosing the country’s government,” she said. Influenced by the Gen Z movement, Jhuma Devi suggested that the government should take corruption control and diplomacy seriously.

With her was 32-year-old Sunita Devi Yadav, who still felt lingering fear from the recent protests. “I was worried something might happen, but I’m happy to be able to vote,” she said. “The next government should create an environment where youth don’t have to go abroad, and provide education and employment opportunities.”

Each voter had their own pains and expectations. Sixty-eight years old Parshuram Rajbanshi is a squatter. He is distressed that he has not received the land ownership certificate for the land he has cultivated for years. “When will we get our land ownership certificate? Whoever wins should resolve our problem,” he said.

Eighty-three years old Jharilal Yadav’s sons are working abroad. In his old age, he longs for the company of his children, which is only possible if they have employment in their own country. The aspirations of Dilli Dhungana and Tej Bahadur Katwal from Gauriganj are no different. They hope, “The next government should not disappoint anyone and allow all citizens to breathe in happiness and peace.”

Jhapa-5 has a total of 163,379 voters across Damak, Gauradaha, Kamal, and Gauriganj, of whom 65.10 percent (106,372) cast their votes, according to the District Election Office, Jhapa.

Oli, who has contested elections seven times since 1991, has won all elections except in 2008. However, the current electoral atmosphere and the changed awareness of voters have heightened curiosity about which side the results in Jhapa-5 will favor.