Only two things can bring silence and empty streets to Kathmandu: Dasain and elections.
An estimated 1.5 million people travelled out of Kathmandu Valley during the Dasain festival in October, but unlike in previous polls they did not leave the city in such large numbers this November 20 to cast their ballots in their home districts.
Stores, usually shuttered for elections, were open, and many inner city booths ready for early voters were nearly empty. It was clear that people had run out of reasons to halt their lives just to vote.
"The same candidates, the same talk, no action," summed up Bishnu Dawadi, who runs a retail store in Maitidevi. ”I did not have the motivation to close the shop and travel."
In the May elections, Dawadi’s family packed, shuttered the shop and took a bus to the adjacent Kavre district to vote. This time, they chose to stay back.
The reason? Dawadi was not impressed by the candidates of Kavre-2: Gokul Baskota (UML), Shiva Prashad Humagain (NC), Dinesh Humagain (RSP), and Yashu Ale Magar (RPP).
UML's Baskota and NC's Humagain were in a neck to neck race that Baskota won, despite being allegedly involved in a corruption scandal as Communications Minister in the K P Oli government two years ago.
Read also: It is comrade vs comrade in Nepal’s elections, Jivray Chalise
They had been rivals in the 2017 elections to the federal Parliament as well.
Juddha Rai, a Morang-3 resident doing business in Bhaktapur, also did not feel it was worth his while to undertake the day-long ride home to vote.
"I did not like the candidates the first time they ran," said Rai. “I do not like them now. Why stop my business and spend my savings to cast a ballot that will not make a difference?”
Gokarna Poudel, a vegetable vendor in Kathmandu, also did not vote in this election. Originally from Sindhupalchok-2 he boycotted the polls, like many from his constituency who are in Kathmandu.
He had been disappointed by UML MP Sher Bahadur Tamang's performance after being elected to the federal Parliament in 2017. Tamang was a strong backer for legalising marijuana, and although he was not tainted as his rival Gokul Basmkota as minister, he had to resign over unproven allegations of wrongdoing. Baskota defeated Tamang in a close race.
"I am loyal to UML, but I can't vote for someone who does nothing for my people," said Poudel, "So, I decided not to bother.”
Read more: The Nepali people have spoken, Sonia Awale
To be sure, not everyone was as frustrated enough with politics not to vote, or did end up voting for new or independent candidates. Police estimated that more than half-a-million people left Kathmandu during the election weekend, much fewer than last time.
Many took advantage of buses that political parties from various districts had organised to take their supporters to the districts to vote. There were some who took the free ride home, and still did not vote.