Motive Of ‘Mission 84’ Under Scanner

Political parties act as a bridge between the people and government even though their elected representatives remain the part of executive wing. The political campaigns include mass rallies and meetings, public hearings and interactions with the grassroots people, and debate on the issues of public interest and policy. Generally, these activities take place before the election, the barometer of parties’ popularity and strength. The political campaigns have different forms but their aim is to communicate with the people and articulate their message to the general public. Through these campaigns, the parties seek to expand their organisation and establish agenda through pithy and snappy slogans. 

Recently, Nepali political parties have been engaged in a series of campaigns primarily intended to gain electoral advantage. However, the rationality of such political caravans has come under scanner. These campaigns are like hustings happening in less than a year after the three-tier polls were held last year. Four years are left for the next elections to be held. In multiparty system, it is not unnatural for the parties to launch the campaigns to push the future election agenda. But the foremost responsibility of the elected representatives is to fulfil pledge made before the voters.  

Ownership dispute 

However, there is a dispute on the ownership of the term ‘mission 84.’ Initially, Rastriya Swotantra Party (RSP) has coined it and started various programmes under its banner. The RSP has blown a fuse after the main opposition CPN-UML initiated ‘mission 84’ with a view to form a majority government after four years under its slogan ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali.’  Worried by the UML’s claims to patent on ‘mission 84,’ RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane has asked all ‘old parties’ to form a consensus government and utilise the remaining four years as the ‘last opportunity’ to 'correct' themselves and resolve all the critical problems facing the nation.

In an apparent reference to the UML, Lamichhane argued that other parties do not have right to talk about the ‘mission 84.’ “There are ‘mission 80,’ ‘mission 81,’ ‘mission 82,’ and ‘mission 83.’ Act jointly for the remaining four years for the cause of people,” he told all mainstream parties. Rabi’s party rose to national scene in the last general election, posing a formidable challenge to mainstream forces that lost to the RSP in the key urban areas. RSP's emergence has been seen as the failure of major parties in ensuring stability, good governance and effective service delivery to the people. 

The government formed following the first three-tier polls held under the new constitution failed to complete its full term in office as the House of Representatives (HoR) was dissolved. The political instability coupled with a string of corruption scandals and cases of fraudulence frustrated the masses, breeding ground for the rise of new political forces.  Akin to the logic of Lamichhane, Nepali Congress (NC) general secretary duo – Gagan Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma - have insisted that they would not fret over the ‘mission 84’. “We should worry about putting the nation on the right direction from 2081 B.S. to 2083 B.S.,” they said. 

Despite having a sweeping mandate, the then Nepal Communist Party (NCP)-led government under its chair KP Sharma Oli collapsed owing to the raging intra-party conflict. Oli dissolved the HoR twice, plunging the country into uncharted waters of volatility. The five-party coalition government constituted following the restoration of House muddled through and managed to let the legislature complete it full five year tenure. The second three-tier polls last year produced a hung parliament. With the previous alliance taking on the mantle of the government, the UML has to be satisfied with the opposition bench. In the elections, the parties got the jitters with the loss of the significant number of seats in federal and provincial parliaments.  

And the UML's 'mission 84' that basically covered the mid-hill areas sought to check the influence of new parties. After losing in the cities, the UML is fearful that the wave of new parties might reach the mid-hill zone considered its strongholds. This is why the party is sloganeering the 'mission 84' right after the polls in 2079 B.S. It has claimed that the campaign has succeeded to control 'deviation' gripping the party functionaries. The mission intended to protect its support base and increase the new membership in view of its nationwide electoral loss.  

Mettle 

However, the observers think UML's campaign flunked in conveying a new message in the national politics though it connected the party to the grassroots. It concentrated on branding Oli, who was the sole speaker of all gatherings. Oli talked about bringing prosperity to the people but could not offer roadmap and outlook of development. He donned ethnic attires, played the musical instruments and enjoyed the local songs but did not raise the issues of economic and gender inequality, and deep-rooted caste discrimination and superstitions. Had he vigorously discussed these subjects with the locals, the mission could have been turned into an impactful social and political awareness drive.

The parties can go to the people at any time. But while talking about 'Mission 84,' they must not deflect the issues or questions to be raised in the coming four years which can be crucial to give a shape to the crisis-ridden economy and instil the confidence in the people. The electorates elect certain candidates or parties with a hope that the latter would address their problems and channel their concerns into legislation.  The elected representatives had better pay heed to present public plight while proving their mettle instead of singing an untimely tune of 'mission 84'.

(The author is Deputy Executive Editor of this daily.)