Election top priority of govt: Minister Kharel

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Oct. 9: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Jagdish Kharel, has reaffirmed that the government’s highest priority is to hold the election on time. 

During an on-site inspection of the Gorkhapatra Corporation's Central Office on Wednesday, Minister Kharel said that the government would create an environment and hold the election to the House of Representatives on March 5, 2026. 

He also warned that failure to hold the election would lead the country into a political vacuum, which must be avoided. "For the country to remain in order, elections must be held, and the media must help create appropriate environment to ensure the poll," he said.

He further noted that no political party or citizen favours delaying the election. "If the election does not take place, the country will face additional risks. We must hold it on time," he added. 

Kharel also pointed out that the current government was formed based on the strength of the Gen - Z movement, and it was enjoying the national and international support. "All people, political parties and international communities have supported this government, which has a historical mandate to hold the election on March 5 next year," he said, reiterating the government's commitment to holding the election on the scheduled date.

He highlighted that the government was preparing for rehabilitation following the losses caused during the Gen - Z movement and said that the movement's demand for good governance must be addressed. "We must listen to the demands of the Gen - Z movement as they reflect the needs of the people," he said.

Highlighting the long history and legacy of Gorkhapatra and its publications, Minister Kharel urged Gorkhapatra Corporation publications to become the true 'voice of the people'. He said it was not necessary to continually praise the government or its ministers. "Focus on the layout of Gorkhapatra and prioritise the issues affecting the public. There is no need to praise ministers, I don’t need it," he said.

While acknowledging the quality of social contents in Gorkhapatra and The Rising Nepal, he urged that the voice of the Gen – Z, and the people take precedence in the newspaper. "There’s a lot of work needed to improve Gorkhapatra's content. We must maintain its legacy as the country’s leading newspaper," he said.

With more than 90 per cent of advertisements in Gorkhapatra coming from the government, Kharel called for increased online advertising. "As we move into the digital age, Gorkhapatra must remain competitive online," he said, urging a focus on creating an environment that attracts more digital advertisements.

Minister Kharel also recommended that Gorkhapatra Corporation's Yuvamanch publication appeal to younger audiences, while Muna should be made accessible on mobile devices for children to read. He further suggested improving the literary Madhuparka Monthly and the opinion section of Gorkhapatra Daily.

Secretary of the Ministry of Communications, Radhika Aryal, also called for Gorkhapatra to maintain its reputation as a reliable source of truthful information. "We must ensure that the dignity of Gorkhapatra is not compromised," she said. She also assured ministry's full support to the corporation. 

On the occasion, General Manager Lal Bahadur Airi presented the current status of the corporation, problems it is facing and the expectations from the new leadership in the ministry.   

During the visit, Minister Kharel and Secretary Aryal, along with other ministry representatives, monitored the operations of Gorkhapatra Corporation. 

Meanwhile, Minister Kharel visited the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) Central Office in Bhadrakali also on Wednesday.

According to RSS, speaking after the inspection visit, Minister Kharel called on all stakeholders to cooperate in creating a conducive environment for the election to the House of Representatives.     

He said that the current government, has a primary mandate to conduct the upcoming election with the participation of all political parties and citizens on the announced date.     

He said that Prime Minister Sushila Karki, on behalf of the government, has already pledged to uphold the election mandate, and stressed the need for building an appropriate atmosphere to ensure its success. The Minister expressed hope for strong support from the media in this regard.     

  Minister Kharel, who also serves as the government spokesperson, further stated, “In addition to preparing for the election, this government is also mandated to ensure good governance, combat corruption, investigate the loss of lives and property during the Gen-Z protests, and provide relief and rehabilitation following recent natural disasters.” He reiterated the government’s commitment to fulfilling these responsibilities.