The Bibeksheel Sajha Party (BSP), a new political force established after a recent merger between the Sajha Party and the Bibeksheel Nepali Party—has said that its decision to keep a “low profile” in the upcoming third phase of local level elections in the face of the previous poll results. The elections are taking place in eight districts of Province 2 on September 18.

Of the total 136 local units, the BSP is contesting in two local units for five posts in Bara and Dhanusha districts. 

The BSP is fielding its candidates from Jitpur Simara Sub-Metropolitan City in Bara and Mithila Rural Municipality in Dhanusha.

Calling the decision a ‘symbolic participation’ BSP Spokesperson Surya Raj Acharya said, “We have decided to keep a low profile for the upcoming local elections because of the time constraints. “We are strategically focused on provincial and federal elections which is just few months away.”    

The party has fielded Ramesh Thapa and Jung Bahadur Kunwar for the chairs of Wards 1 and 3, and Laxman Adhikari and Dipesh Kumar Upreti as ward members in Ward 2 of Jitpur Simara Sub-Metropolitan City. Jagdish Yadav is vying for the chair in Mithila Rural Municipality.  

The party’s decision is stemmed from its experience in the two previous local elections where it struggled to make its mark, except in the Kathmandu Valley. 

“Our experience of elections in Kathmandu Valley and Itahari has made us realise that it would be tough to organise campaigns and win elections without a minimum organisation at the ground level,” admitted Acharya, attributing their poor organisation at the grassroots level for their average performance in the previous elections. 

“Electorate at local levels only vote for those candidates who they know personally. We don’t have this strength in the absence of local organisational structure,” added Acharya. 

However, the BSP has said that it is already targeting the provincial and federal elections which are scheduled for November 26 and December 7 respectively. 

“We spent 2-3 months on party unification that left us with little time to prepare for the local polls,” said Acharya, outlining party’s future course of action. “Now, we are all focused on the provincial and federal elections. We are aiming to cover and field our candidates from all constituencies.” 

The party, which has been often called urban-centric with its influence more focused on Kathmandu Valley, has conceded to have lost an opportunity to come closer to Madhesi people. It maintains that the state needs to address grievances of Madhes. 

“Our party is clear on demands of Madhes. We must admit that the state has been discriminatory towards some communities intentionally or unintentionally,” said Acharya, adding, “Leaders and political parties should rise above their self interests. We need to identify Madhes’ political, economical and social demands and address them.”