Since citizens are the main beneficiaries of the electoral process, it is equally important to ensure meaningful citizen participation in all three stages of the election: before the election, during the election period, and after the election.
What you should know
The country is on the verge of a general election. However, this time the election for the House of Representatives has a special meaning, not limited to a normal political event. This election, which is being held against the backdrop of an extraordinary political course created against the backdrop of a historic and powerful Gen-G uprising, is different from the regular elections of the past.
The upcoming elections seem to be more decisive due to the wide diversification of political opportunities and the entry of new political players. If we look at the scenario of unexpected political practices of division, reorganization and integration in the established political forces as a result of the Gen-G rebellion, this election is also seen as a litmus test for such transformed political forces.
In this sense, the election has been projected as a starting point for reforming the country's existing problematic politics. Therefore, it is natural and meaningful to have some different expectations from this specific election. The article will provide an analytical discussion on the legitimate expectations expected from the upcoming election in the context used.
Elections are the legitimate way to renew public opinion in any democratic state system. Elections institutionalize public sentiment and make citizens feel a sense of belonging to the governance system. In this sense, addressing the essence of public sentiment displayed by the latest Gen-G rebellion and ensuring the highest participation of youth in elections should be a priority for every political force.
The current culture of considering politics as a lifelong profession should be eroded and the parliament should become a youth center, not an old people's assembly or an old age home. However, while saying this, it is unfortunate to make candidates who are passionate about Facebook and TikTok users, artists, and talkative people who have no other political characteristics other than being young, based on the so-called Gen-G or 'populism'.
It is counterproductive to see people with low political awareness like the 'celebrity list' of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) that has become controversial recently as parliament aspirants based solely on popularity. The new forces like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) should understand that the parliament is not a platform for performing arts, it is an intellectual place to make laws that will change the face of the country through tireless political homework.
Since the upcoming elections are not just regular political exercises, the political forces competing in the elections should go to the voters with clear ideologies on basic political issues such as reforming the country's governance structure, amending the constitution, and controlling corruption. Candidates should be able to clearly present their respective ‘roadmaps’ to the public on how they will use their parliamentary authority if they win.
How will the governance system be reformed, understanding the difference between policymaking and development work? What actions will be taken to address the legitimate demands of the Gen-G rebellion? What are the tasks to be completed after receiving a five-year ‘mandate’? These questions should be at the center of the election campaign.
As in the past, the corrupt political practice of sacrificing ideology to fulfill personal interests and forming unnatural electoral alliances between political forces that do not share common views but form the government on the basis of a different political equation should not be repeated. The political results obtained from the elections should be predictable according to the values and norms of constitutionalism and controlled government. There should be maximum compliance with the constitutional, political and election-related triangular ethics by all parties.
In principle, being a candidate in an election is a major political right granted by international human rights law to every citizen of a country who is legally eligible. In this sense, elections should be an accessible political exercise for every citizen. However, if we look at past experiences, it seems that elections have become synonymous with the greed of financially wealthy people, the so-called upper caste communities, businessmen and capitalists. It is well known that elections are becoming more expensive day by day. To some extent, it has become common to express on a mathematical basis how much financial status is required to win in which constituency.
Therefore, despite having political capacity, there is an unspoken restriction on the majority of political talents from entering the electoral arena simply because they are unable to spend money. Therefore, the electoral system, which is trapped in the vortex of syndicates of financially wealthy and upper caste candidates with limited access and influence from the upcoming elections to the top leadership of the party, must be ‘rescued’.
Now, parties should not nominate candidates based on the financial status of the candidate, but on the basis of their qualifications, abilities and skills. Not celebrities, but experts should be entered into parliament after properly evaluating their abilities from among those who have made special contributions in their professional lives. Political parties should also be sensitive to ensuring significant representation of marginalized communities including women, indigenous people, Madhesi, Janajati, Tharu and others in the candidates for the direct election system.
As diversification of political opportunities is also necessary as per the ‘mandate’ of the Gen-G rebellion, the bad practice of giving multiple opportunities to the same person should also be stopped. The indecent practice of eroding democracy through political adultery such as placing those who cannot even secure a bail in the direct election on the proportional list based on nepotism and favoritism, nominating those who lose in the direct election or do not succeed in the proportional election to the National Assembly, making close associates from outside the parliament ministers and making various political appointments should be stopped now.
According to the electoral law, there is no specific provision regarding the need for more than a specific number of voters to gain legal recognition, although maximum voter participation is sought to achieve legitimacy in elections. However, in the last elections, relatively few voters cast their votes, which raised questions about the legitimacy of the elections.
For example, according to the Election Commission, only about 61 percent of the votes were cast across the country in the 2079 BS elections for members of the House of Representatives and Provincial Assemblies. Aversion to elections is a matter of concern for a young democracy like Nepal. Therefore, every effort should be made to ensure maximum voter participation in this election.
For this, elections should be integrated with the feelings of the voters in terms of the agenda. Elections should become synonymous with democracy that awakens the feelings of public opinion, and should not be reduced to a candidate-centric private exercise like in the past. Elections should not be just a means to bring someone to state power, but should become a functional bridge between public opinion and governance.
Independent reports by various national and international observer organizations have stated that the implementation of election laws and election codes of conduct issued during elections is very critical. In recent elections, ballot box looting, ballot papers being torn during the counting process, violent activities at polling stations, and rigging have led to re-voting in various areas.
The large number of election-related disputes entering the courts also indicates that the state of practice of election law is pathetic. In addition, the process of electoral justice and election dispute resolution has not been satisfactory. The final order on vote counting disputes comes after the term of the office bearers has ended, which has no justification. Therefore, zero tolerance should be adopted in the implementation of the election code of conduct to conduct elections in a free, free, fair, credible, participatory, and transparent manner.
The Election Commission, Election Office, Chief Electoral Officer, Election Officer, Polling Officer, Security Agencies, Civil Society, and other stakeholders responsible for election management must fulfill their legal responsibilities. Since the main beneficiaries of the election process are the citizens, it is equally important to ensure meaningful participation of citizens in all three periods of the election, namely before the election, during the election period, and after the election.
