The country's image in international indicators regarding corruption control and good governance is continuously declining. The country's image is continuously deteriorating due to the failure of the ruling parties for decades to take effective steps against corruption and bring the culprits to justice without pressure and influence.

However, in the promises made by the parties to win public opinion in their favor in the elections and return to power, good governance has been prioritized. Looking at the manifestos put forward by the parties focusing on the upcoming elections, corruption control and good governance are everyone's priorities.

31 governments in 34 years: No one saw corruption while in power

The Congress and the UML, which have been in power continuously since 2048, have emphasized good governance in their manifestos. Barring a few years, the Maoists have also been in power continuously since 2063. In the 34 years since 2048, 31 governments have been formed. Out of these, 13 governments have been led by the Congress. 11 governments have been formed under the leadership of the leftist parties (UML and Maoists). After 7 governments were formed under the UML leadership and 4 under the Maoist leadership, 4 under the RPP leadership, direct rule under the then King Gyanendra Shah, and 2 non-party (electoral) governments were formed under the leadership of the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. During these periods, many cases of corruption and mismanagement came to light.

The RSP, which was formed in 2079, has also joined the government twice. However, there have been allegations that the parties have covered up the irregularities and corruption that have occurred in the meantime, protected the 'powerful' involved in the crime, and there has been no impartial investigation into major scams. The main agenda of the Gen-G movement on 23 and 24 Bhadra was also corruption control and good governance. On the basis of that movement, the parliament and the government were dissolved and an electoral government was formed. The electoral government itself is holding the elections scheduled for 21 Falgun. In the manifestos brought by the parties targeting the elections, most of the agendas are about maintaining good governance and prosperity. No one seems ready to become a part of the past injustices and distortions. Instead, all the parties have tried to avoid wholesale by raising the issue of investigating corruption after 2048 and investigating the assets of high-ranking officials.

The Congress unveiled 'Vision Ten' through an election rally in Janakpur on Wednesday, and President Gagan Thapa unveiled the manifesto in Kathmandu on Thursday. Thapa has claimed to be ruthless in establishing good governance and controlling corruption. Except for a few, the Congress has joined the government for most of the period, sometimes as the leader and sometimes as a partner. In the manifesto, the Congress has put forward a commitment to investigate the assets of high-ranking officials for the past 34 years.

Thapa, who came to the leadership of the Congress through a special general convention, has made a commitment to be ruthless for good governance. However, he has given tickets to those who have been convicted in corruption cases and those whose cases are pending in the Supreme Court. Thapa has given tickets to those who have committed crimes ranging from embezzlement of government land to damage to government property.

UML has worked for good governance in the past and has brought a manifesto with good governance as a priority. UML has put forward the slogan of good governance and prosperity by releasing the manifesto in Kathmandu on Thursday. Chairman KP Sharma Oli has made public the document containing the foundations of good governance and prosperity in the manifesto named 'UML will build'. The Congress has been at the center of power and authority since 2048.

In the past, Oli had brought the slogan 'Prosperous Nepal - Happy Nepali'. In the upcoming elections, UML has fielded candidates from gangsters to people facing cases for murder. Oli himself is under investigation by the Inquiry Commission on charges of suppressing the Gen-G movement on 23 Bhadra. The commission is yet to submit its report. Oli is also being investigated by the Money Laundering Investigation Department. Not only this, questions have been raised about the UML-Congress in cases related to major scams.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has prioritized corruption control and good governance by making public its manifesto on Thursday through ‘Manifesto-2082-Resolution to Establish Status: Hundred Basis of Policy Departure for Transformation’. The RSS had covered the issues of good governance through the ‘RSS’ Charter’ last Sunday. RSS President Ravi Lamichhane himself is facing cases in half a dozen courts for cooperative fraud, organized crime and money laundering. He is currently a defendant who has been released on bail from all the courts where the cases have been filed. However, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has claimed that it will work towards good governance if it forms a government under its leadership.

The NCP, which has been in power since the peace process (since 2063), the RPP, which has not hesitated to share power with republican parties despite carrying the agenda of monarchy, and the JSP, which has repeatedly entered the government as a power partner, have also stated in their manifestos that they are committed to controlling corruption, maintaining good governance, and taking the country towards prosperity. The NEMKIPA, the Progressive Democratic Party, the Ujjaya Nepal Party, and others have also brought manifestos giving importance to good governance.

Despite including the slogan of good governance in their manifestos, the parties have not been able to enact major laws related to corruption control and good governance despite coming to power repeatedly. It has been 10 years since the country has been under a federal system of governance, but the Federal Civil Service Act, the Police Adjustment Act, and many other laws related to it have not been enacted. All seven provincial governments are dissatisfied with the center over this.

The 'conflict of interest law', which is considered important for good governance, has not yet been enacted. The parties have also not shown interest in bringing an ethics law. The silence of the parties on bringing an election law that would prevent people involved in various crimes and convicted persons from participating in the elections is still incomprehensible. There is a growing trend of ministers not making their assets public while in government. The parties have also been obstructing the introduction of a law that would allow the authority to investigate the decisions of the Council of Ministers and prosecute those found guilty. Although the subcommittee formed under the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of the dissolved House of Representatives recommended the creation of a law that would give authority to the decisions of the Council of Ministers, the bill was not allowed to move forward from the committee. The law that was supposed to be brought to regulate opaque expenses/programs under the guise of NGOs is stuck in the house. This has not been addressed in the promises and announcements of the parties. Instead, the party divisions in constitutional institutions including the Authority and the courts have weakened the bodies that conduct investigation, prosecution, and justice.

Former Authority Commissioner Kishor Silwal says that questions have arisen when the promises made by the parties on paper are one thing and the actions taken after coming to power are another. He argues that there is a hidden intention behind all the parties' promises to investigate high-ranking officials since 2048 and to form a separate commission for that. 'Who will believe when they put pressure and influence on the existing mechanisms, do not allow the necessary laws to be passed, seek their own people in appointments, and talk about good governance?' Silwal says, 'The question is in intention and character. On paper, everyone says good governance, but has it been done in accordance with that?' He said that even though all the parties say 'I will control corruption, bring good governance, and maintain prosperity in the country' in the run-up to the elections, it is not possible to believe them.

Silwal says, ‘Not only this, parties have also been playing games to influence the investigation and prosecution, obstructing the mechanisms that must be taken into account in appointments, yes, this is the problem.’

• Flight ban in European countries due to lack of reforms in the aviation sector
• Countries with corruption in Transparency International’s index
• ‘Grey List’ in money laundering cases
• Delay in bringing the Good Governance Act, Authority Act, and Integrity Act
• Reluctance in laws related to conflict of interest
• Obstacles in bringing a strict election law to prevent corrupt and tainted people from contesting elections
• Obstacles in the investigation and prosecution of people close to power
• Confusion in bringing a strong law to regulate NGOs
• Reluctance to bring the Police Act, Adjustment Act, and Civil Service Act
• Always manipulating public procurement, covering up irregularities

Parties are more serious about the status of international reports on corruption control and good governance and their indicators Not seen . If we look at Nepal's international image, the country has been included in the list of countries with widespread corruption in Transparency International's 'Corruption Perception Index' (CPI).

In a survey conducted by Transparency through the World Bank, World Economic Forum, Global Insight, Wirtelsmann Foundation, World Justice Project and 'Varieties of Democracy Project (V-DEM), the country's good governance is in a declining trend .

There has been no effective work to control the decisions made by the government, the use of resources and the work done by employees, the involvement of limited individuals with vested interests in the state machinery, the risk of bribery and corruption in contracts, import-export and daily work, and the abuse of position by employees and officials .

Abuse of public office for personal gain by representatives of the government, judiciary, parliament and security agencies, widespread political corruption, irregularities in the government, parliament, judiciary and public sector are also seen as the root causes of misgovernance.

The bill to expand the scope of decisions taken by the Council of Ministers to make investigations by the authority effective has been ignored in the parliament. The international organization that monitors money laundering, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), has included Nepal in the 'grey list' for 2 years. After a year and a half since it was included in this list, Nepal is at risk of being placed on the 'black list' if concrete steps are not taken within 1 year.

How can we believe that a country that has been in power for decades and has not been able to work for good governance, is only indulging in corruption and exploitation, and now, on the eve of elections, says that it is committed? Did it do what it believes yesterday? What has stopped it so far? There is no way to believe the slogans and agendas brought on paper. In a survey conducted by Transparency International, an international organization working against corruption, Nepal has been placed 110th in the list of countries with widespread corruption in 182 countries. Nepal has not been able to get out of this list for 2 decades. The US has also put Nepal on its 'suspicious list' for failing to take effective steps against human trafficking. Accusing Nepal of not making even the most basic efforts to combat human trafficking, it has included Nepal in its 'Tier Two Watch List'. After being included in this, the US has started tightening the movement and visa process from Nepal.

The US has also recently stopped immigration visas from Nepal. It has been over a decade since the European Commission banned Nepali aviation from flying in European skies, accusing it of not taking effective steps in aviation reform. The governments formed during this period have failed to come out of this and to expand the Nepali aviation sector's access to European countries. Not only international indicators, but also in Nepal, investigations and prosecutions by the police, the authority and other judicial/semi-judicial bodies have been focused on power-interest to prevent them from being impartial. There is a growing trend of obstructing investigations against people close to power, creating obstacles to taking cases to court even after investigations are carried out, and even influencing the case once it reaches court. Padmini Pradhanang, former president of Transparency International Nepal, says that the country's international image in matters of good governance has been tarnished due to the leaders who have come to power. She argues that the parties are also responsible for this. 'How can we believe those who have been in power for decades and have not been able to work for good governance, who have only indulged in corruption and exploitation, and who have now come to the polls and say that they are committed?' Did you do the work that you believe in yesterday?’ The question of the leader is, ‘What was stopping you till now? Why is there a need for commitment now? That is why there is no belief that the slogans and agenda of good governance brought on paper will be implemented in practice.’

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Always in power, election promise ‘rule of law free from irregularities and harassment’

Congress President Gagan Thapa has expressed his commitment to move forward ruthlessly against corruption. He has put forward ‘Nepal with rule of law free from irregularities and harassment’ as the main basis of the party’s good governance. Unveiling the Vision Ten in Janakpur on Wednesday and the manifesto in Kathmandu on Thursday, he claimed that he would not compromise on the issue of good governance.

Out of 31 governments formed in the last 34 years, 13 have been led by the Congress and some have been partners and some have been in the opposition role. Questions have been raised in public circles that the Congress is also responsible for the rampant corruption in the country. Thapa, through his 'Vision Ten' and manifesto, has insisted that people in any position of power will be equal in the eyes of the law. He has made public the commitment that 'the discriminatory situation where the law is for the poor and the rich are free will end, the doors to government services will remain equally open for everyone.' The Congress is accused of extreme partisanship in the state machinery, including constitutional organs. Thapa has now expressed his commitment to end it.

‘Partisanship will end in state institutions including courts, constitutional bodies, police, universities, and other institutions. Qualified citizens with knowledge, integrity, and ability and loyal to the constitution will be appointed through a fair and transparent selection process,’ the Congress declaration states. ‘The concept of ‘Digital Nepal’ will be realized by making maximum use of technology in every service of the state, which will end corruption and government delay from the root, and a democratic environment will be ensured where people can fearlessly question the government and demand answers.’ Thapa claims that the party will ‘not look at leaders or relationships’ against those who commit irregularities. ‘We will not look at relationships or leaders, implementation will be based on the recommendations of the commission.’ Because, to make Nepal corruption-free, it is necessary to establish the principle that corruption committed while holding a public position will be punished even after 20 years. We have been working for about 7 years under 'Project Government' to make laws on corruption, to make laws on authority and laws on policy-level corruption and conflict of interest within 6 months, and to make and implement laws that consider failure to act by a designated official within the specified time as corruption,' Thapa has claimed.

Deposed from the movement, good governance in the election promise

UML has put forward the issue of good governance in the election-targeting manifesto. UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli unveiled the manifesto in Kathmandu on Thursday, emphasizing good governance, prosperity and corruption control. However, the Oli-led government and the House of Representatives were dissolved before the end of their term on the basis of the latest Gen-G movement. Oli was ousted on the basis of a movement led by the youth of the Gen-G group demanding control of corruption and irregularities and restoration of good governance. In the election manifesto, he has claimed that the main agenda of good governance is to maintain peace and order, ensure the rule of law, and provide quality services/facilities to citizens in a fair, fast/expeditious manner while building development. It is said, "We declare the effective implementation of the commitment to guarantee a smooth public service delivery system, control and end all forms of corruption including irregularities, delays, and distortions." When he came to power, Oli has been accused of misuse of the law, sharing in appointments/promotions, corruption in public procurement, and obstructing the investigation of offenders. Oli has also been accused of obstructing the investigation of those involved in major scandals including the purchase of the Widebodi aircraft, Giribandhu land irregularities, and Nepal Trust land.

Always in power, prosperity on paper

The Nepali Communist Party (NCP) led by NCP Coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal has brought the ‘Roadmap for Building an Independent and Prosperous Nepal’ as an election commitment on 12th Magh. The NCP has also included good governance and prosperity in its priorities. It has included ‘political stability-good governance, a new phase of economic reform-prosperity with social justice’ in its commitment letter. In practice, the facts that this party and its top leaders have been active in suppressing and protecting unrest and inconsistencies have come to the surface.

Dozens of top leaders in the NCP, which was recently formed by the then Maoist Center and the Unified Socialists with Dahal as coordinator and Madhav Kumar Nepal as co-coordinator, are involved in corruption scandals. The leaders of this party have also been involved in other crimes. The leaders of this party are also involved in protecting middlemen and those involved in state exploitation.

Dahal himself became Prime Minister three times in 2065, 2073 and 2079. NCP co-coordinator Nepal became Prime Minister in 2066. Baburam Bhattarai became Prime Minister from Dahal's own party in 2068. Dahal's party has been in power several times in the governments led by the Congress and UML. NCP co-coordinator Nepal himself is a 'suspect' in the Lalita Niwas case. The corruption case filed by the Authority against Nepal in the Patanjali land embezzlement case is pending in the Special Court. The Money Laundering Investigation Department is investigating NCP Chairman Dahal. The department is investigating him after details of 'burnt notes' found at Dahal's residence on 24 Bhadra and after complaints were filed on other matters. The families of NCP leaders Barshaman Pun and Nand Kishore Pun are 'suspected' in the gold smuggling case. There are allegations that a fair investigation has not been conducted against both of them.

The family of the then Maoist vice-chairman Krishna Bahadur Mahara is also involved in gold smuggling. Former Prime Minister Nepal, who is facing a case in the special court, is a candidate from Rautahat-1 from the NCP. If Nepal wins the election from Rautahat, he will not be able to enter the parliament as the case is pending.

In its manifesto, the NCP has prioritized corruption control, good governance, and social justice-based state administration. The NCP has announced the formation of a high-level ombudsman with the authority, the Money Laundering Investigation Department, and the National Vigilance Center to control corruption in all parts of the state and take action against those involved. The NCP leaders had also advocated in the House for the defendants in some of the corruption cases filed by the Authority in the special court. The NCP has committed to bringing a time-bound action plan to get out of the 'grey list', maintaining good governance in public service delivery, and making the digital and e-governance blueprint public.

Cases against the RSP President, good governance on the party's agenda

There are a number of cases against RSP President Ravi Lamichhane in various courts on cooperative fraud, money laundering, organized crime, citizenship and passport cases. Cases on charges of fraud, money laundering and organized crime are pending in half a dozen courts. The case against him in the dual passport case is pending in the Supreme Court. Lamichhane lost his posts as an MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister in 2079 after the Supreme Court's order in the dual citizenship case. The case in the dual passport case is pending in the Supreme Court. While the investigation against him in the dual passport case was ongoing, the Attorney General's Office had decided not to prosecute the passport case when Pushpa Kamal Dahal was the Prime Minister. A case is pending in the Supreme Court against the decision of the Attorney General's Office. The Sushila Karki-led government has decided to withdraw the organized crime and money laundering cases against Lamichhane through the Attorney General's Office, but the matter has now been put on hold after it became controversial. The Rupandehi and Kaski District Courts have ordered that the case cannot be withdrawn. Lamichhane and his party, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), have made public '100 foundations of transformation' in their upcoming election manifesto to maintain good governance. In the Citizens' Covenant, they have also pointed out that in the current situation, there is a situation of party exploitation of the state structure, process-oriented corruption and license raj, and resorting to middlemen even to get basic services. These issues have been included in the pledge.

After coming to power, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has pledged to ‘build a credible, virtuous state through a ‘mass campaign against corruption for policy, conduct and institutional reform’, ‘make a huge improvement in the corruption index of transparency with universal digital delivery in government services, end partisanship and form a high commission to investigate assets since 2046 BS’. The RSS has fielded Lamichhane, who is still facing charges of moral turpitude in various courts, as a candidate in the upcoming elections from Chitwan-2. However, he has been defending the charges against him as ‘political vendetta’. The RSS has also included issues such as not forming fraternal organizations, abolishing government trade unions, and improving the laws related to the authority, constitutional bodies and the Judicial Council to increase their effectiveness.

Alliance with republicans with monarchy agenda

The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has also made public its election commitment 'resolution' targeting the upcoming elections, prioritizing 'system change, good governance, prosperity and corruption control'. The RPP, while making public its commitment letter on Saturday, announced that it would replace the republic with monarchy, federalism and secularism, and adopt the divine teachings of nation-builder Prithvi Narayan Shah as the 'earthly path' of the party's principles. However, in practice, the RPP has been showing a dual character, ranging from coordinating with republican parties for election and government-centric interests to joining the government itself. In the past, the RPP has not only been present in parliament for election interests, sometimes with the Congress and sometimes with the UML, but has also been acting in accordance with the interests of the government by joining the governments led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, KP Sharma Oli and Sher Bahadur Deuba.

In the 2079 elections, RPP Chairman Rajendra Lingden contested the election in Makawanpur with UML and RPP Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa with UML's sun symbol. Now, RPP Nepal has been integrated into RPP, but this time, RPP is competing in the election without coordinating with other parties. However, the tendency to divide for power interests has been repeated in the past by RPP. In its public commitment letter on Saturday, targeting the upcoming elections, RPP has prioritized the agenda of good governance. It has included the slogan 'We will be destroyed, not corrupted' in the commitment letter.

‘A high-level citizen commission will be formed to investigate the assets of high-ranking leaders and employees after 2046 and make legal arrangements to seize illegal assets, an indicator protection act will be made and implemented to protect and encourage those who provide information on corruption,’ the RPP’s resolution on good governance states, ‘To end political and operational corruption and misconduct, a law on conflict of interest will be issued to bring public office holders under the legal ambit, the Money Laundering Act will be reformed, and arrangements will be made for constitutional appointments free from political interference.’ The RPP has also resolved to make arrangements for restructuring/reappointment in the judiciary to end the distortions and inconsistencies seen in it and to restore the lost trust and make it fully judicial.