This is a golden opportunity for the new forces to gain the trust of the people and for the old parties to be honest and go out among the people, but this opportunity has been missed by both the new and the old.
What you should know
At present, the people have high hopes for the new alternative forces. But the alternative forces, either because they were too enthusiastic or because they lacked political knowledge, could not emerge from a different perspective than the old parties. Therefore, they misused the proportional system. Therefore, great doubts and questions have arisen about the new political alternative forces.
The preamble of the constitution states that it is resolved to build an egalitarian society based on the principles of proportionality, inclusiveness and participation to ensure economic equality, prosperity and social justice by ending all forms of discrimination and oppression created by the feudal, autocratic, centralized and unitary state system, by assimilating the multi-ethnic, multilingual, multi-religious, multicultural and geographically diverse characteristics, by protecting and promoting unity among diversity, socio-cultural solidarity, tolerance and harmony, by ending class, ethnic, regional, linguistic, religious, gender discrimination and all types of caste discrimination. But the political parties of Nepal have flouted this.
The change sought by the Gen-G movement
The election date has been set for 21 Falgun on the basis of the Gen-G movement of 23 and 24 Bhadra. This movement was not just for elections. It was against good governance, stable government and freedom of speech, corruption. Unarmed Gen-G children lost their lives in school/campus uniforms during the 27-hour protest. Amnesty International (Nepal branch)'s monitoring report claims that 'at least 76 people lost their lives' and 'more than 2,000 were injured' during the two-day violence. The investigation report of which is yet to be made public.
In such a backdrop, a decisive election is being held in the country in about two months. There is public belief that decisive leadership should be established through which. Leadership of the leaderless minorities, oppressed classes, communities, and regions should be ensured in this election. It should start from the new. This time is a golden opportunity for the new power to instill confidence in the people and for the old parties to correct themselves and go among the people.
But this opportunity has been missed by both the new and the old. There is a proverb in Nepali, 'Those who are upset stayed at home, those who are upset came.' The new power has further disappointed the people who were upset by the old parties. Instead of making the target group, community, and region a leader, close friends, relatives, elites, and public branded faces have been recommended in the proportional list. Is this arrogance, ego, chaos, or political immaturity? Which has embraced the urbanites and neglected the rural, remote, and remote areas.
Proportional representation under the control of political parties
On December 13 and 14, all political parties, old and new, submitted proportional lists for the House of Representatives elections to the Election Commission. The old parties had already committed dishonesty in it, and the new power showed even more arrogance. Which could not see anyone other than famous faces and urbanites in the scope of capable leadership.
As a result, celebrities, businessmen, filmmakers, singers, actresses, and Miss Nepal have secured the right to proportional representation. Executive Director of the famous shoe brand 'Goldstar', Vidushi Rana, famous filmmaker Asif Shah, actress Rima Bishwakarma, former Miss Nepal Anushka Shrestha, two accused Jwala Sangraula and Araniko Pade who were released on bail, were recommended for the proportional list by the National Independent Party (NISP).
The Congress is an old political party. This party is found to be mired in nepotism. The proportional list for the upcoming House of Representatives elections shows the presence of relatives of the leaders. The daughter of the current President, Sanjaya Pokharel Poudel, and the son of former President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, Chandra Mohan Yadav, are among those included in the proportional list. Influential leaders, former Defense Minister Bhimsen Das Pradhan, Joint General Secretary Bhishma Raj Angdembe, and Romi Gauchan Thakali are also on the list.
Similarly, former Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa 'Badal' and singer Bhumika Subba, Komal Oli, and others from another old party, UML, are among those included in the list. The other major party, the Nepali Communist Party (formerly the Maoists, Unified Socialists, etc.), seems to be a little more aware than before. However, it has not completely improved. The names of some who are capable of contesting in direct elections appear on the proportional list. These include rights activist Mitra Pariyar, former ambassador Pramesh Kumar Hamal, and indigenous/tribal expert Parashuram Tamang.
Neglected people
The status posted on social media by Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah, saying, “I want to see Nepal laugh,” made a crude joke. To see the country laugh, shouldn’t a leader see the people laugh before the country? Whereas when the people laugh, the country laughs. The song sung by Shishir Yogi expresses the essence of the people in this way –
We laugh so that the country laughs
We are the ones who make the country laugh
We are the ones who save the country
We look back at history. How much sacrifice have the neglected classes, communities and regions made to change the system of the country? Trying to trample on its existence today is like trying to block the sun with your palm. The plant does not grow by pouring water on the leaves of a plant, it must be watered at the roots. This awareness should be in the new and old leadership. Where does the change that makes the people laugh really start? Who does it? Who is such a leader? The people are looking for it.
The ambition of the same class and gender is visible. All the opportunities in politics and the state are in the possession of those who want to be the same. Decisions and leadership selection are in their possession. And how are the neglected happy, being deprived of leadership?
Well, the attention of the ruling leader is always drawn to the position and the chair. The opportunities of the state keep revolving around the relatives and workers of the leader. Due to which the state power of the country could not rise above nepotism, capitalism, and corruption. Therefore, the people did not get to feel the republic, good governance and rights. There was a Gen-G movement against that. And, the House of Representatives election was scheduled in the country.
Shouldn't the new and old parties at least assimilate the essence of the Gen-G rebellion? Isn't making those at the helm of the state leaderless an insult to the Gen-G movement, martyrs and the injured? Elections are not just for elections. These elections are to give the country a way out. To ensure representation of the neglected. Not to misuse the proportional system by making relatives, close friends, celebrities and the wealthy. But it is surprising in itself that a new force has emerged in the wake of the old party.
Finally, the proportional system is a system to ensure representation of the marginalized, oppressed communities, classes, genders, regions and the disabled. This is mentioned in the Constitution of Nepal and the election law. Therefore, until the representation of all communities in the mainstream of the state is ensured, the country cannot prosper. The country will not find a way out. Destroying the importance of the proportional representation system under the guise of power and authority is another injustice and oppression against the neglected class.
A country cannot be built by branded faces, nepotism, favoritism, nepotism, hubbub, noise, fuss and fuss. The right leadership is needed to build a country. The country and its people can be brought to a smile not by misleading the people, but by convincing them. Where before the country can smile, the people of the marginalized and oppressed communities, the Far West, Karnali, and Madhesh must first be allowed to smile. All kinds of discrimination and inequality must end. There must be a stable government and good governance in the country. Then the country and its people can find development and a way out. Then the country itself will smile happily.
