By Dr Rajendra Shrestha

The coming national election is going to be a make-it-or-break-it event for Nepal’s future.

Political parties and independent candidates are busy making house calls with their agendas and commitments with all kinds of promises, not even 10 percent of which were fulfilled by the ruling/opposition parties in the last 5 years. This time around they are trying to fool the electorate once again with even more false promises which they are not going to keep. They think they can woo the voters as usual with these gimmicks. Voters have been taken for granted for far too long using the same old trick of buying votes with money, muscle and machinery (organization). They have grossly undermined the smarts of voters and are in for a big surprise this time.

Challenges from independent and new parties are gaining momentum. Three types of independents are in the fray: i. professional youths disenchanted with old leaders/regime’s lack of performance; ii. second tier more deserving party candidates who were denied tickets by party leadership; and iii. those implanted by party leaders to divide the vote (divide and rule) and secure their victory.

Voters must be very careful in choosing the right candidate. This calls for voters to be even smarter in discretely filtering outdated and non-performing candidates at the confidential polls. Time for right-action voters!

Glad that the SC has squashed the EC decision against the “no not again” campaign. A note of caution to independent and new party candidates to come together on key common issues and make a sincere effort to collaborate and support the most likely winning independent candidate asap. Otherwise the very purpose of “change for good” will be defeated. Time for pragmatism.

I have tried to list some key criteria for selecting the right candidate that may help voters to choose:

1. Best qualified representatives, have a good track record, honest, accountable and are not corrupt irrespective of party affiliation;
2. Ask the repeaters what they have delivered on their promises and their reasons for not fulfilling them;
3. What guarantee is there for fulfilling them this time;
4. Are their agendas priority programs of the electorate or chosen by the candidates themselves;
5. How and when do the candidates intend to accomplish the programs in 5 years;
6. What do they feel about public monitoring/audit?

If the election results end up with the same old faces at the top, it will have no meaning and the election will be a futile exercise with a heavy cost to taxpayers who are already marred by high rates of inflation, scarcity of basic needs and rampant corruption. The country cannot afford such democracy and leadership. This is the time for a change.

Hence, I urge all voters to turn out in large numbers (especially the youth and able) and make their voices heard in choosing the right candidates who can bring about systemic and leadership change which most Nepali are desperately aspiring for. Otherwise, the country will face even more dire consequences and is doomed to become a failed state.

Conversation

Login to add a comment

Continue with Google

Login to Add Comment