Locals of Tingla in Necha Salyan Rural Municipality-6, Solukhumbu, boycotted Sunday’s elections of federal parliament and provincial assembly to protest the decision of the Local Level Restructuring Commission to incorporate the village, formerly Tingla VDC, in Necha Salyan.

They had earlier boycotted the local elections that were held on June 28 in the district. Local political parties had also not fielded their candidates in solidarity with the villagers. 

“We have decided not to take part in any elections until our demand is addressed,” Nain Bahadur Karki, a local leader, told the Post over telephone.

There are 995 families in Tingla with 2,476 people eligible to vote. A gathering of the villagers held on last week had reached the decision to boycott the elections. 

Tingla, which falls under ward No 6 of Necha Salyan Rural Municipality, is without ward representatives as they had boycotted the local polls. 

The villagers said that they were compelled to protest because they want the administrative centre of their area at a convenient location. They have suggested integrating the village in Dudhkunda Municipality instead.

An agreement to this end was reached between Necha Salya Rural Municipality and Dudhakunda Municipality recently. But Tingla locals are still not convinced. 

“We even gave up the opportunity to elect our representative in the village during local polls. What benefits do we have to elect representatives for federal parliament and provincial assembly?” said local Lalit Karki on their decision to boycott the elections.