People in Taplejung in Province 1 are upbeat about political stability in the country after the elections.

With the completion of the federal and provincial polls, the country will have governments at all levels—centre, province and local—and people say they are hopeful that this would mean rapid development. Their hope of stability stems from the two-way contest they are expecting between the Nepali Congress-led “democratic alliance” and the left alliance of the CPN-UML and the CPN (Maoist Centre

Elections in Taplejung are scheduled for November 26. 

“The country needs a stable government. The current polarisation following the decision of the UML and the Maoist Centre to form an alliance shows we are going to see a fight between two forces unlike in the past when there used to be several parties in the fray,” Kumar Mabo, a teacher in Phungling-9, said. 

As far as the agendas are concerned, most of the people here said they were hoping an increased investment in road infrastructure.

Despite being the third largest district after Dolpa and Gorkha with an area of 3,636 square kilometres, Taplejung has only 36 kilometres of blacktopped roads with 297-kilometre motorable road. Taplejung is the only other district after Darchula to share border with both the neighbours India and China. While Darchula has easy access to India, Taplejung has its proximity to China, but for it to reap benefits from the northern neighbour, a better road network is a must. 

A 21-km track has been opened from Olangchungola, the northeastern tip of Taplejung, linking the district with China, but it needs upgradation. Locals said attention must be paid to link the district with China at the earliest to put the district on the path to prosperity.

“Better roads could change the entire dynamics of the region. A big chunk of our problems will be solved once we have better road networks,” said Phul Maya Gurung of Suketar, adding that people here are taking the two-way fight between the two forces as a positive sign as they hope it will bring stability, development and ultimately prosperity. 

NC’s Keshav Prasad Dahal is pitted with left alliance’s Yogesh Bhattarai (UML) in the upcoming federal polls in Taplejung district. For provincial assembly, NC’s Lila Devi Bochum and Dipendra Kumar Shandang and left alliances’ Bal Bahadur Samsohang (UML) and Tanka Angbuhang Limbu (Maoist Centre) are in the fray. 

In the local level elections, the total vote share of the UML and the Maoist Centre was 29,914 while the NC had received 19,572 votes. The NC and the Maoist Centre had formed an alliance during the local level polls. 

According to Maoist Centre leader Bishnu Kumar Limbu, consolidation of power will strengthen political forces, hence party cadres are upbeat about stability and development. 

Mani Prasad Labung, NC’s Taplejung vice president, said the communist forces’ decision to join hands also has left some cadres on the ground disenchanted with their leadership, which could benefit his party.