With the third phase of local polls just four days away, Saptari district has been gripped by election fever. People want the election to be held today itself, said local farmer Phulendar Raut, 38.

Hanumannagar Kankalini Municipality-1, which used to wear a deserted look during the Madhes movement, is now bustled with cadres of various political parties busy in election preparation.

It is hard to say that which party would emerge victorious in the election. Voters are excited as the election has created an opportunity to resume the development works that were halted for the past many years due to absence of elected representatives.

“The first priority for now is local level election,” said Raut. The key demands of the people include improvement in quality of education in local government schools, building drainage system, development of roads and electricity, among others.

“There is no government college here. There are five private schools. Of them, only one school run higher secondary courses,” he said.

“The infrastructure of the community schools is in sorry state. On the one hand, there are fewer teachers and on the other hand the teaching and learning activities are not regular due to student unions affiliated to various political parties,” said Raut.

Nirmala Devi, 44, of Bhardaha said that no one had filed nominations to get defeated.

“We will not let the leaders to deceive us again. We will vote that candidate who is capable of steering development works,” she said.

Another local farmer Mahesh Mandal said that the election has provided an opportunity to put forth our demands.

Badri Narayan Sonar, 44, said that Bhardaha would be developed if the local representatives set aside their vested interests.

Jyoti Yadav, a teacher at a local school in Portaha of Bhardaha-3, said that the leaders should focus on the security and future of women.

Bibek Kumar Majhi, 18, said that he is having a good time with his family members at his home due to the local level election.

A truck driver by profession, Majhi said that his father and three uncles have filed their nominations from different parties in the election.

Local Surya Dev Sharma lamented that Bhardaha has lagged far behind Lahan and Itahari in terms of development.

Engineer Shyam Sundar Mandal said that the province would be developed only by true politics rather than the policy of division.