Indigenous Tamang community, which comprises 40 percent of the total population of the district that borders on China´s Tibet, said they will cast their vote to the party they have faith on rather than going after ethnic background of the candidates.[break]
Considering the huge population of the Tamangs in the district, the UCPN (Maoist) has proposed to make Sindhupalchowk the capital of a sprawling Tamsaling federal state.
Most Tamang community members living across Tatopani to the east of Helambu in this biggest district in the Central Development Region say they are neither concerned about Tamsaling federal state, nor are in favor of casting vote solely on the basis of ethnic background of the poll candidates.
The only things they say they are concerned about is a deserving candidate, who can ensure development of their constituency, if not of the entire district.
“Let´s not talk about ethnicity. Ethnicity-based politics won´t do good to anyone,” a 47-year old Bir Bahadur Tamang of Pipaldanda VDC-8, Gaurati told Republica as he shared his views on the upcoming polls and his likes and dislikes of political parties.
While announcing that he would vote for Rastriya Prajatantra Party, he argued that the idea of creating ethnicity-based Tamsaling state is nothing but a ploy to make entire Tamang populace foolish.
“We have already seen this. There will be either a Bramhin or Chhetri ruling us even if it is called a Tamsaling state. Then what good does it do to us?” asked skeptic Tamang.
Most youth voters of the Tamang community in the district also say ethnicity based federal state is not a panacea to their problems. “Ethnicity-based politics does not have any effect here," argued 25-year-old Aakash Tamang of the same village.
“Ethnicity-based politics in country like ours may lead us to face the fate of Somalia [i.e. a troubled African nation with ethnic conflict]." Tamang is a radio jockey with a local Youth FM.
According to the latest census held in 2011, Sindhupalchowk has a total population of 285,770. Of the total, 57 percent population in the district consists of indigenous nationalities including Tamang, Newar, Sherpa and Gurung.
The UCPN (Maoist) has proposed to carve out a Tamsaling state by fusing nine districts: Sindhupalchowk, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Kavre, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dhading, Makawanpur and Sindhuli.
Bal Bahadur Dong, 45, of western Thanpaldhap VDC-4 in the district also holds a similar view. “I will cast my vote not on the basis of ethnicity, but on the basis of political party I have faith on. Ethnicity-based politics is only creating confusion among ordinary people,” said Dong, who runs a saw mill, besides normal farming in the village.
“Some political party and leaders are talking about the Tamsaling state to fulfill their vested interests. But they seem least bothered about the real issues of the people: improving their living standards," he further said.
Dong shared that locals in his village are optimistic over the assurance of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chairman Pashupati SJB Rana that he would help build a hospital in the village.
Makar Bahadur Tamang of southern-eastern village of Jethal VDC-3 Shildhunga in the district said he would vote for the party that vows to work for peasants and workers.
“Instead of ethnic background, whether a candidate can work for the peasants and workers will be my considerations while casting the vote in the election," added Tamang, who had arrived in Barhabise to sell vegetables he grew in his farm.
While announcing that he has made up his mind to cast his vote in favor of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) in the upcoming poll, Tamang complained that some political parties were making the issue of ethnicity a means to make it to the helm of power. “It would be good only if Tamangs are given to handle Tamsaling state. Personally, I do not think it would do any good to us,” he further said.
Local intellectuals argue that the indifference of the majority of Tamangs and other ethnic groups toward ethnicity-based federal state has proved wrong the estimation made by many that ethnicity of poll candidate would be a determining factor in this upcoming election.
“The issue of ethnicity has not reached to the grassroots level yet. Voters here are more interested in a political party or an individual candidate rather than the ethnic background of the candidate," argued Chandra Prasad Neupane, a civil society leader at Chautara, the district headquarters.
Neupane argued that not even 10 percent of the people in Sindhupalchowk are in favor of ethnicity-based federalism.
“Ethnicity-based federalism will, therefore, not have any significant impact in this election. I think this is the same case in the neighboring districts, too," he added.
Altogether 56 candidates including 25 ethnic/indigenous candidates of various 18 political parties and two independent have fielded their candidacies from three constituencies of Sindhupalchowk.
However, the CPN-UML candidate Arun Nepal, Nepali Congress candidate Mohan Bahadur Basnet and the UCPN (Maoist) candidate Saral Sahayatri Poudel - all non-indigenous candidates-are in a tough battle in constituency-1.
There is likely to be a tough competition among the Maoist candidate Agni Prasad Sapkota, the UML candidate Subash Karmacharya and NC candidate Bikash Lama in constituency-2.
In constituency-3, Sher Bahadur Tamang of the UML, Pashuapati SJB Rana of RPP and Tara Nath Dahal of NC are in neck-to-neck competition.
However, Sher Bahadur Tamang is the only Tamang candidate among 16 Tamang candidates in the district who is relatively ahead in the election competition.
So far, only Dawa Tamang, who won the previous CA election from constituency-3, is among Tamang candidate getting victory in four elections held after the restoration of democracy in 1990.
Dawa is currently affiliated with the Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist that is opposed to the polls this time around.
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