Although party candidates have intensified their campaigns in a majority of villages in Dailekh district, youths in rural areas are not excited to cast their votes in the upcoming federal and provincial elections as they have more pressing things to do.

Some young voters have started going to India and Gulf countries in search of jobs even though the election fever grips the district. They are not excited to cast their ballot like in the recently concluded local level elections.

Thirty-eight-year-old Shan-tiram Jaisi of Bhairabi Rural Municipality said a majority of youths are not interested in casting the ballot. “We cast votes in the local level elections. But those were meaningless. The leaders who won the elections did not return to village,” said Jaisi, expressing his frustration at candidates not keeping their promises made during the elections.

People said they have to earn wages to manage two square meals a day.

A majority of youths in rural areas of Chamunda Bindrasaini Municipality and Thatikadh Rural Municipality, among other local federal units, have gone overseas in search of jobs. Ram Bahadur BK of Chamunda said he does not care about the upcoming elections. “I plan to go to the Gulf for job within a month. I have to feed my eight family members. There’s no work here,” said BK.

Yamraj Singh of Mahabu Rural Municipality, who holds a bachelor’s degree, said leaders use youths only during the elections. “They don’t care about us thereafter,” said Singh. Youths who came home for Dashain and Tihar festivals have started going back to India and other foreign countries for job.

Maya Shahi of Thatikadh said many people living in rural areas did not know about the elections as the candidates have not reached there to canvass for votes.