Pralopa, which is engaged in building an alternative political force, has stated that it is worrying that new parties are pursuing 'populism and hegemony', and that the leadership of an alternative political force cannot be a 'supernatural and mysterious character'.
What you should know
The Progressive Democratic Party (PRALOP) has concluded that it is worrisome that parties that have emerged as alternative forces are pursuing populism and heroism. Pralopa, which is engaged in building alternative political forces, has said that it is worrisome that new parties are pursuing 'populism and heroism' and that the leadership of alternative political forces is not a 'supernatural and mysterious character'.
The political report passed by the central committee states that giving too much importance to populism will not lead to political power in the long run. Pralopa made this analysis, pointing to the National Independent Party and the Janmat Party.
‘It is worrying that the trend of parties and leaderships that have emerged as new and alternative forces in Nepal and various countries of the world is often seen as tending towards populism and heroism,’ the report says. ‘Instead of identifying and solving the multidimensional structural problems of our country and society in an objective, scientific and progressive manner, it is the characteristic feature of populism or populism to gain power by focusing the dissatisfaction and impulsive anger of the general public on a few symbolic issues and not providing sustainable solutions to the real problems.’
Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai is the patron, former Maoist Deputy General Secretary Janardan Sharma is the leader and the chairman of the council. Former RSVP chief whip Santosh Pariyar, Durga Sob, Ojaswi Bhattarai and Sudan Kiranti are members. Pralopa has expressed disagreement with the populism and heroism trend that emerges during the transition.
‘Such a trend tends to raise its head during the transition from one era or historical stage to another era or historical stage.’ Populism often comes under the guise of popular issues such as nationalism, religious beliefs, economic crisis, corruption, etc.,' the Pralopa report says. 'A mobile or "grassroots" group that does not have its own separate and sustainable economic and social base is considered to be the main cornerstone of populism.'
The 'heroism' trend of presenting a particular individual as a supernatural and mysterious character and gaining power has also been analyzed as being harmful to social progress in various ways.
‘Capable, visionary, honest, active and popular leadership is essential and important for any campaign, movement or party,’ the report says, ‘but if leadership is established as a supernatural, all-powerful personal “hero” rather than as a centralized expression of collectivity, it is both unscientific and harmful.’
Pralopa says that alternative political forces should carry out political activities while avoiding the trend of ‘populism and heroism’.
‘Speaking in a low-key manner without clarifying one’s stance on core issues such as republicanism, federalism, secularism, inclusive democracy, and socialism, especially in the name of gathering crowds or winning elections, may temporarily win the votes or support of regressive and vacillating forces, but it may ultimately have an adverse effect on the interests of the country and the people,’ Pralopa has warned. ‘This can transform and pollute new and alternative political forces into the old status quo or regressive forces.’
Dual tendencies in parties
Pralopa has stated that there are two tendencies in Nepal. In the political report passed by the central committee and sent to the lower committee for implementation, the Congress, UML, and the Nepali Communist Party are called the first tendency and those who favor regression are called the second tendency. Pralopa concludes that alternative political forces should analyze these two tendencies.
‘There are currently two types of political parties active in Nepal: first, the status quoists who want to preserve the current political culture, thinking and style along with the current dying republic, secularism that nurtures a particular religion, and inclusive democracy that operates according to the whims of the leaders. Second, the retrograde ones who want to bring back the old autocracy by hijacking even the few rights enjoyed by the common people under this system,’ says Pralopa, ‘We are in favor of cutting off the third part.’
He has put forward a new line of action for alternative forces. ‘Our first goal is to implement the republic in every aspect of social life,’ his political goal states, ‘The caste system, patriarchal thinking and customs, feudal culture, superstition and belief should be the first targets of the republic.’
He has mentioned that he stands in favor of inclusive democracy. ‘The essence of inclusive democracy is the special participation of the oppressed in the formulation of policies, programs and practices for the liberation of the oppressed class, gender, region and caste,’ it has put forward a policy, ‘This is not a matter of the elites giving alms out of compassion. All the people, mass organizations and especially the casteist fronts under our ideological influence will accept the end of the caste system (liberation of Dalits) as a precondition for their liberation and will proceed with policies, programs and practices accordingly.’
Since the root cause of hunger, disease, illiteracy and inequality prevalent in the society is exploitation and discrimination, it has been put forward as a common goal to eradicate it and build a free society. It is mentioned that Pralopa’s priority is to provide basic necessities at tax-free rates by providing identity cards to poor families to alleviate poverty.
