By Our Reporter
All the major political parties except for the Maoist Centre have unveiled their manifestoes for the upcoming local elections from the centre.
However, when one goes through the manifestoes, he concludes that they are only the documents of false promises of the parties. They look hypothetical and their implementation is impossible.
In the 2017 polls, Kathmandu’s mayor Bidhya Sundar Shakya had promised to bring monorail in operation, but in five years in office, he did nothing to realise his plans. Of course, Shakya became one of the most incompetent mayors across the country. As such, implementation of manifestoes is only a dream. The parties simply want to buy votes by showing false manifestoes.
Likewise, all the political parties have committed to maintaining good governance by controlling corruption. It is the biggest lie of the manifestos because it is the corruption opportunity that the local level representatives get has forced many former ministers and assembly lawmakers to field their candidature for the mayoral post.
The manifesto of the CPN (Unified Socialist) has mentioned a provision to ban use of alcohol in the country, which is another imposible promise. When the leaders who prepared the manifestoes drink expensive imported liquor themselves, controlling import and consumption of alcohol will be only a big joke.
Almost all parties have promised development and prosperity giving priority to local production of local goods. But the reality is that there exist no industries to produce goods and many fertile fields of hills have now turned into forest as youth tend to fly overseas for job instead of engaging in farm works here. No measure is mentioned to control the exodus of migrant workers in the manifestoes.
Local elections take momentum
Finally, local elections have gripped the entire country with over 150,000 candidates fielding their candidature for the 35,221 posts in 753 local levels across the country.
The Election Commission has allotted two days—April 24 and April 25—to file nominations. However, on the first day only the candidates of small parties and independent candidates fielded their nominations. But on the second day, the election offices across the nation saw huge crowds of candidates as big parties fielded their nominations only on Monday.
When the candidates of both the ruling coalition and the opposition parties donned in their traditional attire of Daura Suruwal and Sari Cholo reached the offices of Returning Officer with some playing panche baja (traditional musical instruments) and others displaying placards, the premises of the office of the Election and Returning Officers looked like brides’ home on Monday.
According to the EC, more than 149,750 candidates have registered their nominations for various posts in 753 local bodies till the latest calculation was made by Tuesday evening.
There are 460 rural municipalities, 276 municipalities, 11 sub metropolitan cities and six metropolitan cities and their 6743 wards across the country.
Of the total candidates, Madhes Province has the largest number of candidates at13,422 followed by Bagmati Province with 8,814 candidates. Sudur Paschim has the lowest candidates at 4650.
Altogether 3,470 candidates have registered their candidature for the post of mayor in 276 municipalities across the country, according to the latest data provided by the Election Commission.
In six metropolitan cities, the candidates of the ruling alliance will have tough competition with the UML candidates.
In Kathmandu, Keshav Sthapit of the UML and Srijjana Singh of NC are vying for the post of mayor. Singh is wife of NC leader Prakashman Singh.
Likewise, Madan Das Shrestha from Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Samikshya Baskota from Bibeksheel Sajha Party and others have filed their nominations for Mayor. Likewise for Deputy-mayor Sunita Dangol from CPN-UML, Binita Majgaiya from Rastriya Prajatanta Party, Raweshwor Shrestha from CPN-Unified Socialist, Kriti Tuladhar from Bibeksheel Sajha Party have filed their nominations.
In Lalitpur, Chiribabu Maharjan will be contesting with Hari Krihna Byanjankar form CPN-UML, Babu Raja Bajracharya from CPN (Maoist Centre), Ashta Maharjan from Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Ujwol Krishna Shrestha from Bibeksheel Sajha Party for the post of mayor. For the post of deputy mayor Manjali Shakya Bajracharya from CPN-UML, Swarnima Shakya form Rastriya Prajatantra Party and other have filed their nominations.
Likewise, in Bhaktapur Municipality Rabindra Lachhimashyu from UML, Badri Lakhaju from Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Krishna Ram Prajapati from Maulik Jaro Kilo Party, Sunil Prajapati from Nepal Majdoor Kishan Party have filed their nominations for Mayor.
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