Women, Youth Not In Parties' Priority

With the filing of nominations by candidates enthusiastically throughout Nepal last week, the country has now geared up for the impending March 5 elections to the House of Representatives (HoR).  A total of 3,484 aspirants have filed their candidacies for the 165 seats of the Lower House of the federal parliament being elected under the first-post-the-past (FPTP) category. The remaining 110 seats of the 275-member HoR are elected through the proportional representation (PR) system. 

Most candidates belong to the many different political parties, while the rest are independent. Despite a constitutional provision of a minimum of 33 per cent women's representation in the federal parliament, only 395 candidates (about 11.34 per cent) are women. This really speaks volumes about the parties not being serious about increasing women’s representation in the country’s legislative body. 

Constitutional spirit

The constitution also includes the provision for the parties to ensure at least 33 per cent representation of women in provincial assemblies and 40 per cent in local governance. But the parties were rarely found working as per this constitutional spirit while selecting candidates for the provincial assemblies and local levels in the previous two polls. What is another sarcastic aspect is that the number of youth candidates is also insignificant, even when the upcoming elections are going to be held as per the spirit of the September 8-9 Gen Z movement. 

The protesters had called for controlling corruption, maintaining transparency and accountability, creating jobs within the country, transferring party leadership to the young generation, among others. With the date for elections nearing, candidates have begun meeting voters and holding consultations with their respective party cadres and supporters as part of their preparations for canvassing. 

However, the parties and aspirants will have to wait for nearly three weeks to kick off their publicity campaigns. The election code bars them from taking part in political rallies before February 16. The Election Commission (EC) has given a two-week period to the parties and candidates for holding election campaigns beginning the second week of February. They take part in rallies and publicity drives only within the given timeframe.

As the election code of conduct has lately come into effect, political parties, candidates, government officials, media and other stakeholders must abide by it so as to ensure a free and fair poll. Laws allow the election body to impose a fine of as much as Rs. 100,000 and dismiss the candidacy when any aspirant is found flouting the election code. 

Given the violation of the poll conduct by various political leaders and candidates during the registration of nominations, the EC must be tough on those breaching election laws so as to make sure that elections are held in a free and fair manner. The poll body needs to make every effort possible to enforce the election code effectively. When its interventions are not effective, law violators’ morale will become high, leading to illegal activities like poll violence and rigging.    

Meanwhile, political parties have now become quite busy drafting their respective election manifestos.  With manifestos, they go to the people. Manifestos are a public declaration of the parties’ policies and aims. In order to win the hearts and minds of voters, the parties must come up with realistic promises. Though election manifestos are not legally enforceable, they are considered an effective instrument for the parties and aspirants to express their plans and agendas. 

Voters cast their ballots for the parties and candidates based on their track record and public image.  The documents need to highlight the agendas that help address the country’s needs and public aspirations. They should also be practical and implementable. With the changed scenario and people’s aspirations, the parties are required to be flexible enough to review their previous election manifestos. The parties must come up with plans to enhance national unity amid growing generational conflicts in the country. There is an urgent need to foster peace and harmony among them. In a democracy, it is the prime responsibility of the political parties to work on this front.  

Although three long decades have already passed since the restoration of democracy in the country, no good service delivery system has been in place. This has caused much frustration among people. So, the parties must incorporate this agenda in their manifestos. Accelerating economic and infrastructure development should also be high on their agenda. Even when the country is preparing to graduate from a least developed country to a developing one by the end of this year, poverty is still rampant. Reports show that about 20.3 per cent of the population in Nepal lived below the national poverty line in 2023-24. It is much higher in rural areas. Therefore, the parties must deal with this issue in their manifesto. 

Economic crisis

Tackling issues related to national productivity and unemployment should also be prioritised. The country has been going through an economic crisis over the years. The burden of foreign debt has been increasing at an alarming rate. There is also a problem of joblessness. Because of this, hundreds of thousands of Nepali youths are bound to go overseas to find a job. The country has also witnessed a worsening level of capital spending. This has resulted in numerous problems. 

Thus, the responsible political forces must pay due attention to these obstacles. The state is supposed to take up the responsibility of imparting education and health services to people. But, with an increase in the private sector’s investment in these important sectors, the state’s stake seems to have been decreasing. So, the parties must come forward with a clear view on them and express their commitment to increasing investment in them.    

(The author is a former deputy executive editor of this daily.)