Basic infrastructure and public services remain the central concerns for residents of Thori in Parsa-4, where persistent development challenges have once again become major election issues.

At a tea shop in Gautamnagar, locals gathered to discuss their daily hardships, highlighting problems that have lasted through successive elections. Most remarkable among them is the incomplete Hulaki Highway, which connects Thori eastwards but remains unpaved towards the west due to restrictions within the Chitwan National Park. During the monsoon, the road becomes impassable, cutting off access to essential services.

Residents say the poor road condition affects their livelihoods and healthcare access, as Thori relies heavily on nearby Chitwan for treatment and trade. A local farmer, Ranjit Thapa, recalled how a pregnant cow he transported from Chitwan was severely injured due to the rough dirt road, underscoring the practical impact of inadequate infrastructure.

Healthcare services in Thori remain limited, with the construction of a 15-bed hospital building stalled due to insufficient funding. Ramesh Raj Think, the health coordinator at Thori Rural Municipality, said the facility could not be completed due to budget shortages and failure to provide essential medical staff, citing poor infrastructure.

Residents also expressed concern over incomplete school buildings, lack of irrigation, and frequent threats from wild animals entering settlements from surrounding forests. Wildlife attacks, flood-prone streams and poor connectivity continue to affect daily life in the rural municipality.

At Harpurchowk in Jagarnathpur Rural Municipality, farmer Subhash Chaudhary said he no longer trusts repeated election slogans, citing persistent shortages of irrigation, fertiliser and seeds. “How can we trust the same leaders when we continue to face the same problems?” he said.

However, he expressed satisfaction that the Hulaki Highway passing through his village has improved connectivity after being paved.

Similarly, Chandmani Devi Tharuni of Basantapur in Jirabhawani Rural Municipality, who runs a small shop beside the highway and depends mainly on farming, acknowledged some progress. “The road has made life easier. Some work has been done,” she said, adding, “But this time, we must look towards new leadership.”

Constituency No. 4 of Parsa has seen many of the same candidates contest elections repeatedly since 1991, and the region remains relatively underdeveloped compared to other parts of the district. Major political parties have once again fielded many familiar faces.

Nepali Congress candidate Ramesh Rijal, who has contested from the constituency multiple times, said his agenda focuses on improving healthcare, education, road infrastructure and overall prosperity. “I have worked in the past and am contesting to complete the remaining tasks,” he said, adding that social and religious freedom also form part of his commitments.

CPN-UML candidate Zalim Mian Mansuri, contesting for the second time, said development remains his main priority. He repeated improvements in health and education, irrigation for farmers, better security, good governance, employment opportunities and efforts to curb youth migration as his agenda. “Overall development is my main pledge, and I remain committed to achieving it,” he said.

Rastriya Swatantra Party candidate Tek Bahadur Shakya said his priorities include upgrading Bhiswa and Thori customs points, completing the unfinished Hulaki Highway and linking it with the East-West Highway, and promoting Thori as a tourist destination. He also pledged support for farmers through timely supply of fertilisers, seeds and irrigation, and the construction of bridges along the Gandak Canal.

Nepal Communist Party candidate Jayaprakash Tharu said his agenda includes building bridges over several local rivers, improving road connectivity between rural municipalities, developing Thori as a tourism hub and strengthening healthcare services through hospitals, birthing centres and deployment of doctors. He also pledged to promote the Dugdheshwarnath Temple in Parsa National Park and link it with India’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve to attract tourists, while encouraging entrepreneurship and industrial development to reduce unemployment.

With a population of 20,296, Thori remains one of the most underdeveloped areas in the district.

Thus, improving education and healthcare, controlling wildlife threats, managing seasonal streams and completing the Hulaki Highway to link Thori with the East-West Highway are the promises repeated in successive elections since long time.

A total of 95,213 voters are eligible to cast ballots in Parsa-4, where 48 polling stations and 114 polling centres have been designated.

Despite repeated commitments from political leaders, many residents remain sceptical, saying their basic needs have yet to be addressed.