The time for the House of Representatives elections is now only 16 days away. As the elections scheduled for 21 Falgun are approaching, all 77 districts have become election-ready. After three years, there has been a lot of excitement in the villages and cities as party leaders/workers reach the doorsteps of voters. However, most party candidates are reaching the voters without manifestos.

According to the Election Commission, out of the 68 parties that have filed candidacies in the direct elections, only 30 have made their election manifestos public and submitted them to the Commission as of Tuesday. The Commission's Assistant Spokesperson Kul Bahadur GC said that 68 parties have registered to participate in the direct elections. Less than half of them have submitted their manifestos, he said. He said that the major parties including the Congress and the UML are yet to submit their manifestos. According to him, 38 parties have not submitted their manifestos so far. 

According to the Commission, the major parties Congress, UML and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have not yet made their manifestos public. They have 'booked' the time to submit their manifestos to the Election Commission. The Congress has 'booked' the time to make them public on 6th Falgun, while the UML and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have 'booked' the time to make them public on 7th Falgun. Parties including the Nepali Communist Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal, Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party, Ujjaj Nepal Party, Rastriya Janamorcha Nepal have already made their manifestos public and submitted them to the Election Commission.

The Election Commission had directed the parties to make their election manifestos public ahead of the election campaign schedule. However, most of the parties have not submitted their manifestos by 5th Falgun. The Election Commission has stated that the UML and the Congress have 'bungled' the time to bring out the manifestos, while the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has submitted a partial commitment letter called a contract and has informed that it will submit the details in a few days. 

Although the Commission has directed the election manifestos to be made public by 3rd Falgun, there is no provision in the election law to make the manifesto mandatory. Former Chief Election Commissioner Neelkanth Upreti said that the manifestos brought by the parties are the identity of the party and the basis for choosing it. He said that the manifesto is necessary because it mentions the commitment to the voters that the party will do these and these things if it comes to power, as well as policies and principles. He claims that parties have brought manifestos in the past as well and that voters will vote based on the agenda and commitments mentioned in them.

'Manifesto is a promise or resolution. It is said that let me win, I will do this for the country and the people. Voters will believe in that,' he said, 'It is also a resolution. It means that I will go to the government and do good for everyone. After making a resolution, it must be fulfilled. This is also the basis for the people to check later whether it has been fulfilled or not.' He said that he is in favor of bringing the party's commitment letter as it will also explain why the people will choose me. 

Former Chief Election Commissioner Bhojraj Pokharel also says that voters will know the plans and policies of the parties through the manifesto or commitment letter. 'There is no binding legal provision, but the parties will bring such a manifesto to explain to the people their principles, why voters will vote for them and what they will do,' Pokharel said, 'Otherwise, how will voters know which party and candidate are what and what their principles are?'

He argues that the manifesto is important because it is also considered the main material of election campaigning. He commented that since the manifesto should be brought for the needs and clarity of the voters, it is more of a trust in the people than a legal obligation.