Street vendors struggle as election fervor rises

After five years, the Nepali Congress Party is holding an internal election. The party was back with their 14th General Convention at Bhrikutimandap on December 10, 2021. On January 25th and 26th 1947, the first ever General Convention began in India with the narration of BP Koirala. The fifth General Convention of the Nepali Congress which was also the first in Nepal held on May 23 to 26, 1952.

Bhrikutimandap, a popular hub for shoppers and street vendors, was chosen as the venue for the party’s General convention. However, it has created a major obstruction for the local street vendors.

Due to the programme, numbers of street vendors have been prohibited from entering the premises to sell their goods. They have been forced to remain on the side of the road which has caused loss for their businesses.

Durga Bhujel, a peanut seller at Bhrikuti Mandap, says, “I come here everyday from Kalopul to sell peanuts. From an all day sale on normal days I earn around five hundred but since we are not allowed to enter the premises, earning has become harder as no one is buying outside of the gate. There is a huge crowd but I have not even sold a gram of peanuts since this morning.”

Som Thapa, a bookseller in Bhrikutimandap for almost seven years, arrives early in the morning to sell books about politicians. Thapa, like many other book dealers, is struggling to sell books due to the ongoing convention and electoral roll at Bhrikutimandap. "No one is permitted to enter Bhrikutimandap's main gate. But I come at 9 am, so I got lucky and got in," he says.

 "I thought I was lucky, but so far I have only sold one book. My business has been down since the beginning of the Convention, and my earnings have been relatively low compared to the days before," adds Thapa.

Same goes to Shyam Mainali who sells Chatpate at Bhrikutimandap, “The turnout of people is huge but they don't buy anything. I have been here since morning and have not been able to sell anything.”