Melbourne – Ananta Raj Poudel, a Nepali migrant and community leader, has officially announced his candidacy for the upcoming Hume City Council elections in Mount Ridley Ward. Poudel is one of seven candidates contesting the local election, which will take place from October 8 to 25, offering a four-year term on the council.

Poudel, who works in a health sector, has been an active figure in Melbourne’s Multicultural community. He serves as the Joint Treasure of the Australian Nepalese Multicultural Centre and advisor to Multicultural community organizations, including Craigieburn Nepali Samaj, Chitwan Samaj, the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Victoria, and the Nepalese Association of Victoria (NAV). He also founded Chitwan Samaj, a prominent Nepali community group in Victoria.

Poudel’s campaign is centered around key issues such as health, the environment, and community empowerment. His platform includes proposals to reduce long wait times for medical appointments, address the availability of essential medicines, and create more affordable childcare centers to support women returning to the workforce after childbirth. He also advocates for stricter penalties for public waste disposal offenders and increased police patrolling to improve local safety.

“I want to create a bridge between local community, focusing on the needs of both in our multicultural society,” Poudel told Connect Nepali Media.

He has also committed to visiting all eligible voters before the election and is receiving strong support from the local community. ”I am deeply committed to making our community a better place for everyone, and as a ward councilor,  I will work tirelessly to ensure that your concerns are heard and acted on time”, he added.

If elected, Poudel hopes to address rising council rates, improve waste management, and tackle issues around public safety, in addition to empowering women and families through better childcare services. “We need to make sure that every community feels represented and has access to the services they need,” Poudel added. He also further emphasized the importance of transparency, accountability and collaboration for the better community and promised to working with all the stakeholders within the society.