DANG, Feb 7: Parishwar Bhattarai, chairman of Satyawati Rural Municipality in Gulmi, reached Dang for the first time on Tuesday. He came to Dang to cast his vote in National Assembly election scheduled to be held on Wednesday.
“I really liked the geographical features and environment in this district,” said Bhattarai, praising it as a suitable place as the capital of Province 5. “Perhaps this election will pave the way for deciding the permanent provincial capital,” he added.
For Bishnu Giri, chairman of Gaumukhi Rural Municipality of Pyuthan, the trip to Dang for the elections is not his first one to the district. Like Bhattarai, he also agreed on Dang being suitable for the provincial capital.
“Dang is at the center of Province 5. Political decision did not allow Dang to be the capital. However, we hope the national assembly election will pave the way for creating suitable environment to declare it as the capital,” he said.
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Despite strong support for Dang, Butwal was selected as the temporary capital of the province. The only way to overturn the decision, as per the provision of the newly adopted constitution, is through a two-thirds majority in the provincial assembly.
Many have taken the decision to hold national assembly election in Dang as creating a suitable environment to declare it as the provincial capital.
The elected parliament members have also arrived in Dang. Provincial assembly members said this gathering has indeed brought the possibility of Dang being declared as the provincial capital.
“This election is the opportunity to bring together all the elected representatives in one place and provide them information about the place,” said Dadhi Ram Neupane, member of the provincial parliament elected from Rupandehi constituency-1 (b).
He further said that the gathering has provided hope for holding deep discussions on the permanent provincial capital. “It is a matter of pride for the people of Dang for this election to happen in their district. This will also be a platform for the members to discuss the development strategies for Dang,” added Neupane.
Kul Bahadur KC, who was elected from Rolpa, said the election is a historic moment for the people of Dang district. “Holding the election for the first time in history creates a meaningful impact for the whole district,” he said, praising Dang as being geographically suitable to be the provincial capital.
Voters from all the districts of the province have reached Dang for the national assembly elections. They have received a warm welcome from the local and various local bodies and agencies.
A total of 305 voters of 12 districts of Province 5 will cast their votes on Wednesday. The province has 87 members of provincial parliament and 218 chiefs and deputy chiefs of local units.
