As the dust of the House of Representatives elections begins to settle, the Gaddachauki border point in Kanchanpur district is once again witnessing a familiar and sombre exodus. Thousands of Nepali migrant workers, who had returned home to exercise their franchise, are packing their bags and heading back to India to earn a living. Their message to the newly elected representatives is clear—do not forget the promises made on the campaign trail.

Narad Datta Bhatta, aged 42, from ward 9 of Belauri Municipality, has been working in the Indian capital city of Delhi for 12 years. He returned home on March 1 to cast his vote. "We have done our duty by casting our ballots,” said Bhatta while preparing to cross the border on Saturday. “The winners have been declared, and now we must return to work. We can only hope they finally deliver on their pledges. If employment were available at home, we would never choose this life of separation.”

Bhatta, accompanied by three family members, further said that his entire family remains dependent on Indian wages. His story mirrors the plight of thousands of migrant workers from Sudurpaschim and other provinces where seasonal migration is often the only escape from extreme poverty. Despite political parties consistently promising "employment at every settlement" in their manifestos, the reality at the border crossings remains unchanged.

Tekendra Majhi of Tikapur in neighbouring Kailali district, who works as a manual labourer in Haridwar in Uttarakhand state, echoed the same sentiments. "Usually, we return for the Nepali New Year in mid-April, but this time the elections brought us back early," said Majhi. Having worked in India for a decade, he expressed weary optimism. "They talk of 'transformation' every election. We hope this time it isn't just the faces of the leaders that change, but our circumstances too. We want to work in our own land, stay with our own families,” said Majhi who has been working in India for about 10 years.

A significant number of Nepali migrant workers who had returned from India to vote are now heading back to their jobs, with many others currently in the process of departing. However, some have opted to stay a while longer, planning to return only after celebrating the Nepali New Year and assisting with the wheat harvest.

Currently, between 200 and 250 workers cross the Gaddachauki checkpoint daily, destined for Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh states, and metropolitan hubs like Mumbai and Bangalore. While many work in agriculture or construction, others find employment as porters or security guards. The lack of a formal database for these migrant workers often leaves them vulnerable to exploitation and without any state safety net.

For Naresh Chaudhary from Dhangadhi, the provincial headquarters in Kailali, the journey is born of necessity. Working in Himachal for five years, he spoke of the hardships faced abroad. "Wages are low, and we often face humiliation," said Chaudhary. "Also, sending money home is a struggle. If there were opportunities here, why would we choose to be second-class citizens elsewhere?”

Chaudhary said they had spent their hard-earned savings just to come home and vote, hoping for a better future through the power of the ballot."

"But so far, we have lived only on hope. Even now, there is no certainty that anything will change,” he added.