The political parties generally acquire their vigour and dynamism from their internal democratic exercises considered vital for their legitimacy and moral fibre. The bottom-up approach enhances the inner-party democracy for it
The Constitution of Nepal, promulgated in 2015, has become nine-year-old. The historic charter has transformed the country into a federal, secular, and republican state. The country saw two election cycles since the n
The recent central committee (CC) meeting of Nepali Congress (NC) concluded with win-win resolutions. Party president Sher Bahadur Deuba has chosen a middle path to deal with the proposals presented by two general secretaries – Gagan Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma. The establishment led by president himself and the dissidents were divided on Thapa’s organisational report and Sharma’s document on contemporary politics. Deuba stepped up to the plate to take both Thapa and Sharma into confidence, sending a positive message to the party’s rank and file. In doing so, Deuba even ignored his loyalists dead set on rejecting both the proposals as the establishment holds much sway over the CC. Thapa had proposed that the NC should not forge pre-poll alliance with any political parties, hold the general convention within 2082 B.S. and constitute a statute draft committee at the meeting that ran for more than three weeks. Similarly, in his report, Sharma floated the concept of exit policy
It is no wonder that various schemes and projects incorporated into the government’s annual policies and programmes are repeated because they were/are not completed in the previous or current fiscal years. B
More than 18 years have elapsed since democracy was reinstated in 2006 following the collapse of king Gyanendra’s 14-month direct rule in the country. The April Uprising that is also called Janaandolan-II (second people’s movement), paved the way for the transformative structural changes. The Himalayan nation was converted into a secular, federal republic, abolishing the 204-year-old monarchy. The new constitution promulgated through the Constituent Assembly (CA) consolidated these landmark achievements. With this epochal upheaval, Nepali politica
In the West, communism is long dead but enormous success of the Communist Party of China (CPC) shows that when Marxism is adapted to the national realities, it becomes a reliable ideological instrument t
As Nepal heads to consolidate the federal republican system, various latent conflicts have come to the fore. These conflicts range from distribution of powers and resources between the provinces and federation to the flare-up of the religious and identity disputes at the local level. Chief Ministers have been flexing muscles against the centre, demanding the necessary laws that equip them with legal, administrative and financial rights. These unintended developments belie the logic that the underlying structural problems would be resolved once the federal, republican and secular system is operationalised. No doubt, the country has un
Eight years after the promulgation of new constitution that transformed Nepal into republican system, pro-monarchical and anti-federalist forces are raising their heads. This implies the eroding functionality and credibility of the current political dispensation. This calls for broader democratic reforms in line with the new constitution that reflects accommodative character and stresses dialogue and compromise with the dissenting forces. If their emergence
Nepal government’s recent ban on TikTok, a popular short-form video app, has triggered a new debate on the use of social media considered as viable tools for expressing opinions, showcasing talent, promoting business and conducting political
As geopolitics has returned to impact the bilateral relations of nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has emerged as a vibrant intergovernmental forum committed to
Anyone visiting China is awestricken by its modernity – high-rise buildings, spreading boulevards, networks of high-speed trains, sprawling industrial entities, whizzing sleek cars and rushes of people clad in ties and suits. Of course, China is heading on the path of modernisation that is carved by itself but modernity is not only term that defines new China having 500,000-year-long civilisation.
In his poem ‘Death Be Not Proud,’ famous English poet John Donne has personified death and challenged its pride in power, terming it an illusion. Donne argues that death is neither mighty nor dreadful. However, his metaphysical poem appears to be a wishful thinking that can hardly overcome the acute emotional and mental shock that a person undergoes at the moment of dying or when s/h loses close relatives – father, mother, spouse or offspring suddenly. The loss of loved ones is irreparable. In that sense, death is the most dreadful thing in the life of people. Ever
CPN-Maoist Centre chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has kicked off his third innings as Nepal’s Prime Minster with the backing of newly formed 7-party coalition. He was appointed a new PM in a dramatic twist of the political events marked by dissolution of an old alliance and creation of the new one that is a medley of incompatible ideologies. By becoming the new head of government, Prachanda is poised to burnish his old image as a revolutionary leader to check the fast erosion of his party’s influence and support base as seen in the recent federal and provincial elections.
Freedom of speech, a free press and right to information constitute fundamental characteristics of democracy in modern time. In a liberal democracy, free speech has been touted as an inalienable part of political and social life. However, free speech and press freedom alone does not strengthen democracy and serve the public. Experiences and examples show that lies, rumours and misinformation
The revolt, betrayal and realignment that took place on the eve of filing the candidacy for the federal and provincial elections slated for next month are sure to deliver unpredictable electoral shocks to the political parties.