Political analysts have said that the recent seven-point agreement between Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) President Ravi Lamichhane and Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah lacks a concrete agenda to provide a long-term solution for the country.

Speaking at a program organized by the Central Department of Conflict, Peace and Development Studies of Tribhuvan University, analysts Indra Adhikari, Keshav Dahal, Chandradev Bhatta and Lekhnath Pandey argued that this agreement is mainly based on populism and cannot provide a real solution for the country.

Experts have claimed that this agreement between Ravi and Balen is only for show. This is old-style politics of using people's anger and frustration to become popular for a short time.

Politics is not possible without a party: Indra Adhikari

Analyst Adhikari argued that the country is in trouble because the past of Nepali politics has mostly been based on populist trends. She said that the fact that there is no alternative to a political party in Nepal was confirmed by Balendra Shah's participation in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). She concluded that the idea of ​​politics without a party is not possible in Nepal.

They argue that even in the seven-point agreement, there is no clear roadmap, no ideological discussion, and the team that owns social justice will know it from the face. She says that there is a need for good governance, justice, and ideological clarity in Nepali politics. She said that although the collaboration between Balen and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has attracted the young generation, the question has arisen whether it can provide long-term political stability. The official said that populism will further weaken democracy.

‘Even now, it does not seem to be thinking about ‘beyond the political party’. Balen himself has joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) proving that politics is not possible without a party. The seven-point agreement also shows this. Nepali politics is based on populism from Mahendra Path to Prithvi Narayan Path. There is no clear path in this agreement of leaders who have come claiming to solve problems with a pinch of salt. There has been no ideological discussion. When it comes to good governance and justice, you can tell how much ownership of social justice they take by looking at the team's faces. Populism has been seen repeatedly in the name of Covid, blockade, sloppy maps or nation-building. 'It weakens democracy,' she said.

Populists rise by taking advantage of despair: Keshav Dahal

Analyst Dahal argued that populists are dominating politics because there is no debate on the agenda in the country. He said that the state and parties have failed to address the frustration of the people, creating an environment conducive to populist politics. He said that populists who have come to rely on the frustration of the people will push the country into further crisis.

Accepting the reality that the dreams shown by the 2062/63 people's movement are gradually fading, he said that political parties have not been able to properly address the expectations of the people in the democratic process. He said that this has increased frustration among the people and facilitated the rise of populist leaders. He believes that populists will come taking advantage of people's suffering and this will push society into further crisis. People will follow them in search of support, but he also says that this will not be a long-term solution.

He said, 'Today we are debating more on emotions and less on the agenda. That is why I think populist politics has become more intense. When the establishment cannot meet people's expectations. When people are disappointed. When people are in trouble. When people are extremely sad. That person is also society. Then a person is needed. A person is needed who says, "I am here to take away your sorrow." Only then does he raise his head and look and see that someone is my person. He says, "There is a person who can wipe away tears." But in that pain, he does not know how to wipe away those tears. Is that the person who wiped the tears or not? He does not know. Democracy, our political parties could not fulfill the expectations of the people properly. The dreams shown in 2062/063 gradually died, withered. This is true. Populists come to remove the sorrow and disappointment of the people. This will push the society into further crisis. And they follow them as support.'

Majority outside the party chooses populists: Chandradev Bhatt

Analyst Bhatt said that the populists have an opportunity because the number of people who are not affiliated with political parties is high in Nepal. 14 million people are not affiliated with parties. There are only 30-40 million workers. Political analyst Bhatta claims that the rise of populist leaders like Ravi Lamichhane and Balendra Sah in Nepal's political landscape is due to the dissatisfaction of a large number of people who are not affiliated with the party. According to Bhatta, the popularity of such leaders is due to the lack of a long-term vision of the parties and the influence of short-term populism.

'Why are Nepal's populists like Ravi and Balen not affiliated with the party?' There are 14 million people in Nepal who are not affiliated with the party. There are 30 to 40 million party members. Many people are outside. They seek change. They end up choosing populists. No other system lasts long. Parties that come up with programs do not talk about the long term. This is a short story.'

Populism flourishes due to the weakness of institutions: Lekhnath Pandey

State institutions and the media sector in Nepal are becoming weaker day by day. Analyst Pandey said that populism has dominated Nepali politics due to the weakness of the state, media and other institutions. He also said that the weakness of institutions is fatal for democracy. He said that even though the number of media institutions is large, their financial weakness poses a serious threat to democracy.