In the last few days, election fever has gripped Gorkha. Candidates from seven different parties have registered for the elections, but the talk of the town was the appearance of Baburam Bhattarai. People thronged the CPN-Maoist's rally to hear what their local politician had to say.

On Tuesday, all the parties set off round the villages for election campaigns. The high attendance at the meetings of all parties shows that people in Gorkha are looking towards elections. "Gorkha has always stood up for democracy. The past three elections have proved that Gorkhalis are committed to democratic principles and this one will be no different," says the NC candidate from ward no. 2, Chandra Prasad Neupane who is related to Bhattarai.

Amidst the excitement about the election there are also some doubts and fears. Lumnath Neupane, headmaster of a local school cautions, said the election staff will have to watch out for booth capture. He further adds, "Unless people get to vote without intimidation for the candidates of their choice, the elections will not be a success." he adds

According to Binod Dhakal, a local journalist, people in the remote villages have tired of talks about the polls. He cites the constant postponement of elections and the absence of the parties at times when the villagers wanted their voices heard as reasons for their indifference.

While the political parties might have taken their time to reach out to the villagers, everyone, and especially those directly affected by the war, wants elections. In the words of Ram Bahadur Shrestha whose daughter was kidnapped by the Maoists for three months, "the country can move forward if there are elections."