Voters at a polling center in Okhaldhunga have decided not to cast their ballots.
According to Chief District Officer Mekh Bahadur Mangrati, as of 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, not a single person had arrived to vote at the Toksel polling center in Manebhanjyang Rural Municipality-7.
Mangrati said that the locals are abstaining from voting as a form of protest.
According to Gyanendra Rumdani, chairman of Manebhanjyang Rural Municipality, there are 701 registered voters at that polling center.
Rumdani explained that the protest stems from the provincial government's failure to begin construction on a promised provincial hospital in the area.
"The provincial government sought 165 ropanis of land. The locals collectively provided that land. However, the government only sent a budget of Rs 2-2.5 million annually. Work including leveling the ground was completed," he said. "However, the government has not addressed the issue recently, which is why the citizens have boycotted the election."
According to Rumdani, local political parties and representatives held discussions with the voters to try and change their minds.
"We held multiple discussions and urged them not to waive their right to vote. But they insisted on not voting to pressure the government. We deliberated for two days, but no agreement could be reached," he added.
Voting in the House of Representatives election began at 7 a.m. on Thursday and is scheduled to continue until 5 p.m.
