Parties submitted closed lists of candidates for the proportional representation system to the Election Commission on Sunday and Monday for the House of Representatives elections to be held on 21 Falgun.

According to the commission's schedule, the final closed list will be published on Magh 20 after completing some stages of work such as amending the names of candidates, withdrawing their names by the candidates themselves, and putting new names in the vacant positions. There is a concern during every election about which people the parties will make proportional candidates and how they will prioritize them on the closed list, and this time too. In the past, the parties have been criticizing this system because they have recommended names in a way that takes the dignity of the proportional system. Because, when parties recommend names of relatives, donors, businessmen and entrepreneurs, the target group has been deprived of opportunities. In the political scenario after the Gen-G movement, there is a general expectation that the parties will improve on past weaknesses.

In the 2048 BS census, the Dalit population was 16 percent. But in the elections held for 205 seats in the House of Representatives that year, only one Dalit won. In the elections of 2051 and 2056 BS, Dalits were not represented at all. In all three elections, the representation of women and other communities, including Dalits, was also weak in terms of gender. The debates in such a parliament and the laws it makes could not represent the larger aspirations of society. Not all communities would have belonged to such a parliament. With the desire that the diversity of society be reflected in the organs and institutions of the state, the demand for state restructuring arose. As an effort to do so, the proportional system has also been adopted in the elections after 2064. Due to this, the representation in parliament is also becoming diverse. For example, out of the 601 members of the first and second Constituent Assembly formed in the elections of 2064 and 2070, the number of Dalit members of parliament was 50 and 40 respectively. Out of the 275 members of the House of Representatives formed in 2074 and 2079, the number of Dalit MPs was 19 and 16 respectively. Dalit representation is only a reference, from which the overall situation can be analyzed.

Before 2064, in the elections for parliament, parties did not field candidates that matched the characteristics of Nepali society, and even if they did, it would be difficult to win. This had an impact on the diversity of representation in parliament. The situation is still the same in direct elections. However, the proportional system has made the House more diverse. In the 2079 election to the House of Representatives for 275 members, 91 female candidates were elected. Of these, 9 were directly elected and 82 were proportionally elected. Similarly, 16 Dalits were elected. Of these, one was directly elected and 15 were proportionally elected. There is also significant representation from other communities. However, for diversity, we still have to rely on proportional representation. Parties have the responsibility to field candidates that reflect social diversity and enable them to win. However, the contribution that the proportional system has made so far is also commendable.

It is clear that the proportional system was introduced with the expectation that those who would have difficulty winning through the direct election system but who are qualified to represent community diversity would reach parliament. However, its misuse has been going on since the beginning. Since seats are distributed to political parties across the country based on the percentage of votes they receive, the names that can be elected from relatively influential parties can be estimated in advance based on the priority of the closed list. Therefore, such parties go beyond the purpose of the proportional system and prioritize names in the closed list. This has created a situation where the 'Tarmara class' within the respective community is in power. The parliament has been looking excellent from the perspective of community and gender representation. However, there is criticism from the perspective of who is benefiting from the respective community.

For reference, in the 2079 elections, the names that the parties prioritized in their closed lists and were elected can be examined. The Congress had placed Prakash Sharan Mahat at the first number for Khas Arya men, Arju Rana on the women's list, and Bimalendra Nidhi on the Madhesi list. Raghuji Pant and Eknath Dhakals were the initial numbers for Khas Arya from the UML. Hitraj Pandey was elected from the Maoist Center. Pashupati Shumsher Jabra and Prakash Chandra Lohani were elected from the RPP. Jabra was elected, Lohani was not. However, they were already influential. Their voices have been heard by the House for a long time.