ITAHARI, June 20: Itahari of Sunsari district is one of the rising cities of Province-1. Leading such a city would be a matter of prestige and great challenge to the prospective mayor and deputy mayor. With the local elections just around the corner, many are curious who would lead the city by winning the vital posts in the polls slated for June 28. Republica talked with mayoral and deputy mayoral candidates of various parties vying in Itahari Sub-metropolitan City of Sunsari regarding the upcoming polls. Excerpts:

Indra Kandambo Limbu, Kumar Lingden-led Federal Limbuwan Forum mayoral candidate
I registered my candidacy so that voices of people will not go unheard in the election that is taking after a hiatus of 20 years. Nine districts of Arun in the eastern region should be renamed as Limbuwan State, which is our main demand. Our main agenda would be to unite all the indigenous communities and move forward. Along with that, there obviously are plans for development and conservation of local languages and cultures.

Sagar Subedi, CPN (Maoist Center) deputy mayoral candidate
I am vying in the elections with development and prosperity of Itahari as my main agenda. The electoral manifesto of my party speaks in depth regarding our election agenda. We plan to make Itahari a trade hub of the region and implement business also at night. Managing the squatter settlements and making education and health services accessible even to the poor would be my other agendas. 

Devi Khanal,  Federal Socialist Form Nepal mayoral candidate
I plan to stop social ills that are prevalent in Itahari and also speed up development works of the city. As sewage management issue is one of the most serious problems of Itahari, I would solve the waste problem, as well as develop roads and make education and health services more accessible. Likewise, providing electricity and other development infrastructures would be my other objectives.

Maya Rayamajhi, Rastriya Prajatantra Party deputy mayoral candidate
While developing Itahari as a beautiful and developed city, I will also work for empowerment of women. As the city lacks basic infrastructures, I will speed up the developmental works and make our city more developed than other cities.

 
• vox pop
 
• itahari
 
• election agendas
 
• model city
 
• second phase
 
• local polls