Breaking Tradition, Janak Bhandari's Team Discusses Electoral Agenda with Journalists First

Janak Bhandari's team, a candidate for the presidency of the Nepalese Society of Texas (NST) for the upcoming term, has successfully concluded an interaction and suggestion collection program with journalists working in the Dallas–Fort Worth area.

In the program held on Monday, December 1, in the assembly hall of Indian Kitchen in Haltom City, the Bhandari group informed the journalists about their electoral commitments and future plans and collected suggestions from them. The program was attended by presidential candidate Bhandari and other candidates of his panel.

Speaking at the event, presidential candidate Janak Bhandari pledged to further elevate the prestige of NST if elected. Stating that the Nepali society is a glorious institution on the world map, he recalled that it had previously given birth to important organizations such as NCSC, Himalayan Health Clinic, and the Nepali Chamber of Commerce.

Presenting his team's main agendas, he outlined plans such as increasing public participation in temple construction, arranging transportation for senior citizens, establishing NST as an umbrella organization, making the international student aid fund more effective, and increasing coordination with American governmental bodies.

Dr. Chandi Bhandari, the candidate for Senior Vice President, stated that his team would adopt the agendas provided by the community as their own and implement them.She mentioned that the team includes dedicated colleagues who have served the country and are now ready to serve the community.

Ramkrishna Yadav, the candidate for General Secretary, said during the program that he believes in work rather than publicity on social media. He disclosed that after being accused of 'publicizing' his social service in the past, he vowed not to do personal publicity on social media. 

"If elected, every decision and work will be made public transparently through press releases," Yadav said, "I do not have a personal agenda, the team's agenda is my agenda. We will meet with journalists every three months to seek suggestions." He also shared plans to arrange a toll-free number for the decentralization of the society's work.

Similarly, Gunjan Bhandari, the candidate for Vice President, said that she has been active in social work since Nepal. "Social service is a feeling that comes from the heart, it is not a matter done just for publicity," she said, "I decided to return to the executive committee because I felt I could not do more when not in office." She emphasized the need for the society to collaborate more, especially on the problems of students and women.

The participating journalists offered suggestions on various topics during the interaction. Om Acharya, Editor-in-Chief of US Khabar, suggested seriously addressing the rising incidence of suicide in Texas, arranging for counselors, improving relations between the media and NST, and resolving the issue of the cricket stadium.

Likewise, Manoj Joshi, a journalist from US Khabar, urged the team to end factionalism within the society and reconcile with the dissatisfied parties. Kisan Regmi, former regional coordinator of NEJA, said that the candidates' agendas are important and that such suggestion collection programs should be continued even after being elected.

At the end of the program, Senior Vice President candidate Chandi Bhandari answered the questions raised, reiterating that his team would adopt the agendas provided by the community as their own and implement them.

He said the team includes dedicated colleagues who have served the country and are now ready to serve the community. "We operate on the principle that 'Life is not for the principle, but the principle is for life'," he said, "The community gives us the agenda, and we are just the implementers. Team Janak has come only for service."

The program was facilitated by Sandesh Upreti, former General Secretary of the Nepali Society of Texas, and was attended by Senior Vice President candidate Chandi Bhandari, Vice President candidate Gunjan Bhandari, Women Vice President candidate Radhika Kharal, Secretary candidate Sushil Bartaula, Treasurer candidate Bhola Mainali, Joint Treasurer candidate Rinjing Lama, Youth and Student Coordinator Adarsha Bhandari, Sports Coordinator Ujit Adhikari, and Women Coordinator candidate Yamuna Thapa, along with executive committee candidates Prakash Nepal, Ramesh Thapa, Arjun Bam, Krishna Prasai, and Utpal Khadka.