Candidates reaching out to people seeking votes for the upcoming elections are facing tough questions from voters, with many asking them about development and employment.

“Our brothers and sons have left the country as they could not find jobs in the country,” an elderly woman told CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli during his recent poll campaign at the Dormari settlement in Jhapa-5. She called for creating employment opportunities at home.

Addressing an election rally organised in the settlement later, Oli said that his party would work to create employment opportunities by increasing economic activities in the country. People’s anger is but natural, as development has taken a back seat due to political instability, said Oli.

Nepali Congress (NC) leader Shekhar Koirala, who is contesting the elections for the federal parliament from Morang-6, is often asked why he stopped visiting the settlements in his constituency.

“I am one of the few leaders who frequently visit their constituencies,” said Koirala, adding that he, however, has taken the voters’ concern in a positive light. “Voters of course like to meet their leaders more often.”

Even though political parties have made lofty promises in their manifestos, people are demanding basic facilities.

In eastern Tarai districts, flooding and inundation are major issues, and voters have been reminding all the candidates of the devastation they cause every year.

Bhanubhakta Dahal, a UML leader, who is contesting from Morang-3, and NC’s Minendra Rijal who is contesting from Morang-2, however, facing a hard time convincing the voters who have branded them “tourist candidates”.

Both Dhakal and Rijal, who were elected as Constituent Assembly members under the proportional representation system, however, defended the charge.  Rijal said he was born and brought up in Morang and that the allegation that he is “a tourist candidate” is baseless. Similarly, Dhakal, who hails from Tehrathum, said he and his brothers have land in Morang and that “I am not a tourist here”.