The process of presenting the policies and programs to be adopted for nation-building among voters in the form of a manifesto, if a government is formed by winning a majority in parliament from the people's votes, began with the 2015 parliamentary election. The 2015 election is considered the birth of the process as it marked the beginning of the process of presenting manifestos to voters by election contestants presenting policies and programs.

In Nepal, the practice of citizens electing their representatives by voting began with the local elections of 2004. The contestants in the local elections held in 2004 and 2010 did not bring manifestos to the voters; the election campaign was conducted through pamphlets and leaflets. In the first election, the Nepali Congress, Nepal Nationalist Gorkha Council, United Prajatantra Party, Nepal Communist Party, Prajatantrik Mahasabha, Nepal Praja Parishad (Mixed faction), Nepal Praja Parishad (Acharya faction), Terai Congress, and Nepali National Congress participated. 

While going to the voters, the political parties presented a review of the past and future action plans. The manifestos also reviewed the 8 years since the revolution of 2007 BS. The desire of the parties that aimed to run the government by taking public opinion after the revolution, the state of society at that time, and the incident of not allowing elections for a long time after the revolution are also clear from the manifestos of the parties. 

Congress's manifesto on finance, religion, and foreign policy

In 2015, the Congress went to the elections under the leadership of BP Koirala. Koirala became the president of the Nepali Congress after a special general convention in 2014. The party leadership was also in his hands in the election, in which Koirala was seen as the next prime minister. 

The first line of the manifesto greeted the countrymen. ‘The Nepali Congress sends its election message to all the farmers and laborers working in the fields, workers in factories, businessmen engaged in industry and business, other citizens engaged in various trades and professions, various government employees in the military or civil service, women, youth, students, educated community, landlords, saints-mahants, subbas, rais, tribal chiefs, jimmawals, rich and poor,’ the manifesto of the Congress said at the beginning. Through this, the Congress tried to include all classes, genders, castes and communities of society.

The manifesto, which reviewed the 2007 revolution as ‘the people’s desire to build a new era’, stated that the autocratic Rana regime had become a hindrance to the progress of the country. The manifesto reviewed the fact that the power thrown into the revolution did not allow elections to be held for 8 years and that there were many attempts to form the government. ‘Despite the conspiracies and efforts of the reactionary forces, democracy has taken root in the hearts of the Nepali people. Now Nepal can never return to the pre-revolutionary direction,’ the Congress had assured the people, ‘Today, there is a clear imprint of poverty and ignorance on the faces of the people of our country. The food, drink, and living conditions of our Nepali brothers have become a story of long torture,’ the manifesto was concerned about society.  

The Congress had promised what steps it would take if it succeeded in the elections. The Congress had named ‘Village, Farmers, and Land’ at the beginning of its 2015 manifesto. Stating that it was focused on land reform, it had written, ‘Only when the villages and farmers of the villages are prosperous will industry also flourish. Without land reform, we will not be able to take Nepal on the path of progress. Land reform will mainly take two forms—(a) ending feudal exploitation of land and securing the rights of farmers and cultivators, (b) increasing land production by adopting scientific methods and means.’ 

The Congress aimed to end feudal exploitation of farmers. To achieve these goals, it had put forward 13 plans. Forest conservation, nationalization of birta, ending the Rajouta and zamindari system, and redistribution of land exceeding the limit were on the Congress agenda. It also promised compensation during the redistribution of land property, cooperative farming, establishment of agricultural banks and grain banks in the districts, arrangement of seeds and fertilizers, and arrangement of dams and irrigation. Taking the slogan ‘Progress of the village is the progress of the country’, the Congress said that it would launch a village-to-village campaign to improve the villages. It also mentioned that it would introduce a program based on the village for decentralization of governance. It was said that the people of the villages would be organized as a ‘land army’ and a program would be introduced to provide housing for homeless farmers. 

Although it gave priority to land reform and agriculture, the Congress manifesto also mentioned that it was focusing on trade and industry. The manifesto mentioned the need to develop industry rapidly in the country, pass the Labor Act, and bring about changes in the administrative machinery, which was slow and unscientific. ‘The people are suffering from corruption in the administrative machinery and widespread bribery in the courts. The administrative machinery is for the good of the people. But it is being used to exploit the people,’ the manifesto said about the personnel administration, ‘As soon as the government takes charge, the Congress will eradicate bribery and corruption.’ The Congress also mentioned that it would adopt a policy of appointing and protecting qualified and honest employees for scientific reforms in the administrative machinery. 

The Congress was clear about secularism in the first election itself. It had made it clear that citizens would be free to follow their own religion and that the state would not discriminate on the basis of faith. ‘The Congress guarantees that all religious followers will follow the religion, laws and regulations of their inner convictions and will be allowed to follow them. If anyone tries to obstruct someone's religion, the party assures us that it will use all its strength for security,' the manifesto said. Stating that the national language would be Nepali, the Congress had pledged that the government would protect and promote regional languages. 

The Congress had also written briefly and clearly about foreign policy. 'The foreign policy of the Nepali Congress will be to maintain friendship with all nations on the basis of equality. The Congress will not join any strategic group,' the manifesto said, 'Nepal will make good use of its membership in the United Nations to achieve peace. The Nepali Congress will maintain complete friendship with its great neighboring countries.'

Nepal Nationalist Gorkha manifesto 

The second largest party in the 2015 elections was the Nepal Nationalist Gorkha Council. The Rana, who was overthrown in the 2007 revolution, was a supporter of this party. Bharatshumsher Rana had initially formed the 'Gorkha Dal' against the new political parties. Later, after participating in the elections, it was transformed into the ‘Nepal Nationalist Gorkha Council’. Those who had faith in the Rana regime and were dissatisfied with the new party had confidence in this party. 

 The Gorkha Council government, which took the election symbol ‘Jhupadi (house)’, was asked what it would do in five years and wrote in response – ‘It will double the standard of living of the people. It will open two hundred hospitals. It will build two thousand bridges. It will build dams and pens everywhere. It will build two-three thousand schools. It will make primary education compulsory and free throughout the country.’ 

This party had promised to establish courts and a high court at the zonal level to facilitate the access of the common citizen to justice. It had written in its manifesto that it would give special priority to citizens of the Terai and neglected regions in government jobs. This party, which had made the slogan ‘Peaceful country, happy life’, had written in its manifesto that it would give priority to the people of all regions of the country in state bodies. ‘Some government service routes are closed for the people of the Terai region, this kind of system is condemnable. We call it an undemocratic system,’ the manifesto read, ‘Special opportunities will be provided to the neglected sectors in government jobs. No one will be neglected, everyone will get the opportunity for equal facilities.’

NCP manifesto: Nepal-India Treaty reform and US infiltration control 

The Nepali Communist Party had appealed to the people to vote for candidates dedicated to the people in the elections. ‘In this general election, the people should elect a party candidate or dedicated candidate who has been fighting against corruption, black marketing, nepotism, favoritism, servility and opportunism for the welfare of the people and whose patriotism and honesty have also become a glorious history,’ the manifesto read. 

The NCP’s election symbol was ‘three ears of corn with a smile’. The Communist Party’s manifesto stated that it had a policy of defeating ‘reactionary and revivalist’ elements in the elections. This party had supported democratic candidates in areas where it did not have its own candidates under its electoral policy. Its appeal was – to protect democracy, build the nation, cast your vote in the box with such an election symbol and make the Communist Party win to protect your rights.

In the first election, the NCP, led by General Secretary Keshar Jung Rayamajhi, had written in its manifesto that there was foreign interference in the country and that the foreign policy of Nepal's rulers was not balanced. The first point of the policy and program that the NCP would adopt after forming the government after the election mentioned foreign policy. 'The Communist Party is in favor of adopting a firm policy in favor of equality and world peace. If the party comes to power, it will cancel the 10-year treaty between the then government of His Majesty and the British government on the recruitment of Gurkhas,' the manifesto said, 'It will stand in favor of efforts to reform the Nepal-India unequal trade treaty and control American infiltration into the country.'

The NCP had put forward a program of industrialization, land reform, and ending unemployment problems to rebuild the country under the ‘domestic policy’. It was mentioned that if the NCP government is formed, attention will be paid to the development of the people’s art and culture, proper provision of medical services and education, and guaranteeing the fundamental rights of the people. 

The NCP’s program mentioned that if it wins the election and gets a majority to form the government, special attention will be paid to industrial development. ‘Main industries will be opened under the control of the state. But the development of national capital, foreign aid and loans will also be invested in them. The capitalists will not be encouraged,’ it was mentioned in the NCP’s industrial policy, ‘The minimum wage of the working class will be fixed and all other facilities available to the workers will also be provided.’ 

The Nepali currency will be introduced into circulation and the transport and communication sectors will be developed. The NCP’s agricultural policy mentioned that ‘the state rajouta and birta system will be abolished’. The NCP also announced the formation of a ‘Tamsuk Investigation Commission’ and a policy to cancel fake Tamsuk. The party had pledged to implement specific plans including irrigation facilities, cooperative system, and establishment of government banks to provide loans to farmers, and construction of veterinary hospitals in villages. 

Praja Parishad's manifesto to limit the king's powers and make the parliament powerful

The manifesto of the Nepal Praja Parishad (Halo election symbol) stated its commitment to believe in a fully democratic system of governance. 'The Nepal Praja Parishad believes in a fully democratic system of governance under the legitimate leadership of His Majesty the King. And reiterating that belief, it considers such a constitution to be essential,' the manifesto of the Praja Parishad stated, 'in which the sovereignty of the state rests with the people and the elected parliament is as powerful as that of England and the powers of the king are limited. The constitution must guarantee fundamental civil rights and the independence of the judiciary.'

The Praja Parishad had written in its manifesto that the government should not promote any religion. 'Every citizen of Nepal will be given complete freedom in religious matters. The government will not interfere in it in any way,' the manifesto said.  The manifesto stated that the Praja Parishad was in favor of an independent foreign policy against international factions and military treaties. 'On the basis of Panchasheel, we want to maintain friendly relations with all the nations of the world,' the manifesto said. 

The Praja Parishad, which put forward a program to provide education and health facilities to the citizens, advocated for the rights of workers in the manifesto. 'It is only a daydream to think about nationalism and development in the country after making education a gift for a handful of rich people, making it available only to those who are born with gold and silver spoons in their mouths,' was the view of the Praja Parishad regarding education. 

Right to Recall of Independent Candidates with the 'Hour' Election Symbol'

In the 2015 elections, 268 independent candidates were in the fray. त्यो निर्वाचनका स्वतन्त्र उम्मेदवारमध्ये एक थिए लालसिं महर्जन, जसको चुनाव चिह्न थियो— घण्टा (घन्टी) । काठमाडौं क्षेत्र नम्बर १ बाट उम्मेदवारी दिएका महर्जनले घोषणापत्र जारी गरेका थिए ।

किसान र मजदुरको पक्षमा काम गर्ने उनको चुनावी घोषणापत्रमा उल्लेख थियो । ‘किसान चुनाव घोषणापत्र’ जारी गरेका उनले ‘किसानको जय गराउन घण्टालाई भोट दिनुहोस्’ भनी चिह्नसहितको घोषणापत्र जारी गरेका थिए । उनले ६ बुँदामा प्रतिबद्धता जनाएका थिए ।

‘मजदुरलाई दुई छाक खानाको प्रबन्ध गर्नुपर्दछ । काम गर्दा खुट्टा जखम भए त्यसको लागि उचित भत्ताको प्रबन्ध हुनुपर्दछ । मजदुरका लागि बोनसको नियम हुनुपर्दछ,’ घोषणापत्रमा लेखिएको थियो, ‘मजदुर स्त्रीले पनि बराबर कामको बराबर ज्याला पाउनुपर्दछ । मजदुर स्त्रीलाई प्रसूतिकालमा २ महिनाको तलबसहित छुट्टी दिनुपर्दछ ।’ उनले मजदुर संगठन र हडताललाई कानुनी मान्यता दिइनुपर्ने माग गरेका थिए ।