DHADING, May 10: Fourteen candidates belonging to Chepang community are going to contest the local level elections slated for May 14 in Dhading district.
This is the first time the largest-ever number of marginalized Chepang people are taking part in the local level election fray.
School for Chepang kids with modern facilities
There were two Chepang candidates in the last election to Constituent Assembly under the proportional electoral system. Seven Chepang candidates from CPN(Maoist Center), four from CPN(UML) and three from Nepali Congress fielded their nominations for different posts in Gajuri and Benighat Rorang municipalities.
Chepang candidates do not consider themselves as being political opponent of one another though they represent different political parties. “No matter whoever wins the election. The victory of any of us is our collective victory aimed at developing the village. Getting an opportunity to contest the election is a big matter for us”, said all the candidates.
All the Chepang candidates have common agenda: health, education and economic development.
Of the fourteen Chepang candidates contesting the local level elections, three fielded their candidacies for the position of Ward chairperson.