Pokhara, 11 February | As the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5 (Falgun 21) approaches, political activities and door-to-door campaigns have reached a fever pitch across the 11 districts of Gandaki Province. Spanning from the trans-Himalayan regions of Manang and Mustang to the plains of Nawalpur, the province’s 18 electoral constituencies are witnessing intense engagement between candidates and voters. Given its strategic location—bordering China at the Korala point and India at Triveni—the electoral dynamics of Gandaki are often seen as a reflection of the national political sentiment. However, this year, voters are increasingly shifting their focus toward localized environmental and economic concerns, demanding concrete commitments from political parties rather than generic promises.
One of the most pressing issues highlighted by local residents, particularly in the high-altitude regions like Mustang, is the direct impact of climate change. Neeraj Thakali, a youth from Thini, Mustang, points out that changing weather patterns have severely disrupted traditional agricultural practices, leaving farmers in distress. Residents are seeking state intervention to mitigate environmental degradation and protect their livelihoods. Furthermore, land management remains a major grievance, with locals demanding the systematic survey of lands that have remained unmeasured since 1975, a situation that has disproportionately affected landless squatters. In the tourism sector, stakeholders are urging the government to fully operationalize the Korala border crossing and initiate direct international flights from Pokhara International Airport to boost the regional economy.
Beyond tourism and climate, the agricultural belt is grappling with issues like irrigation scarcity, riverbank erosion, and a growing monkey menace that has led to significant crop losses. Farmers in areas like Suraudi, Kaski, emphasize the need for effective river training and irrigation policies to prevent fertile land from turning into desert. Meanwhile, residents of Nawalpur are demanding the upgradation of the Nawalpur-Bhimad-Pokhara road to ensure direct connectivity to the provincial capital, avoiding the current tedious route through Bagmati Province. According to the Province Election Office in Pokhara, a total of 1,870,065 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in Gandaki this term. Kaski district holds the highest number of voters with 293,088, while Manang remains the smallest with 6,849. With 21 political parties and various independent candidates in the fray, the outcome will be crucial in addressing these diverse regional challenges.
