Narayan Prasad Ghimire
Kathmandu, Jan 21: The atmosphere for the House of Representatives (HoR) election scheduled for coming March 5 has finally gripped the nation.
The political parties with legacy and the new ones have almost finalized the list of candidates to field under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) for HoR election, while the Election Commission made public the closed list of the proportional candidates, seeking objection on it, if any.
The Election Commission, constitutional body to hold and monitor the election, has intensified the preparations for the voting, a grand democratic exercise. The interim government formed with a major mandate of election has accelerated the pace to hold the voting successfully. The orientations on election code of conduct and recruitment of election police are going on nationwide.
Similarly, the election officials and security agencies in the provinces and districts are working in coordination to finalize the places as voting centres and booths.
Although the political parties like the CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress showed reluctance in the beginning towards HoR election announced on the very day the interim government was formed after the flash youth uprising of September 8-9 called Gen Z movement, they finally embraced the democratic exercise, picking the party candidates for it.
More jubilant are the new ones, especially the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), the Ujyalo Nepal Party, and the Shram Sanskriti Party, showing fervors in favour of new faces.
The former Prime Minister and Chairman of the CPN-UML, KP Sharma Oli, reached his hometown, Jhapa, on January 19, first time after the Gen Z movement. Some days back the high-level inquiry commission on the Gen Z uprising had lifted ban on his movement after he responded to the high-level inquiry commission led by Gauri Bahadur Karki.
Similarly, the Nepali Congress party, now led by Gagan Thapa, is learnt to be making last ditch efforts to finalize the candidates for direct election and filing nomination today itself.
With all these progresses unfolding rapidly in recent weeks, the election fever has gripped the nation. Now, the HoR election seems almost unstoppable.
Factors behind bewilderment of old parties
Undoubtedly, the March 5 election is a historic one. Although every election is historic, this election is more historic because it is caused over a phenomenal development in Nepal’s national politics with sudden dissolution of the House of Representatives and is witnessing a surge and razzmatazz of the new political parties, throwing the old ones in a bewilderment.
There are other reasons behind surprise for the parties with legacy like the Nepali Congress (NC), CPN UML and the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) that they had to undergo significant changes and debates within the parties to deal with the new scenario. They were in throes in deed, which will be reflected further in the election results they fare.
The NC and the communist parties were in the helm for decades in Nepal. They fought against the autocratic Rana regime, party-less panchayat and monarchy, thereby restoring the democracy and later establishing the federal republic. They sometimes campaigned alone, even against each other at times, and worked together to rule the country. But they collectively faced a tragedy that they were termed ‘old and irrelevant’ by the Gen Z youths with the culmination of September 8-9 uprising.
It was a common setback to them. The demand and campaign for leadership change in these parties mounted thereafter. Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ had to ditch ‘Maoism’, a long-time appendage, and bring together a dozen of communist and leftist forces and splinters to make the NCP. Although the party is rich, being a home to three former prime ministers- Prachanda, Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhalanath Khanal, NCP’s base is eroded much. Once the stalwarts of Pranchada’s front, such as Baburam Bhattarai, Janardan Sharma and Netra Bikram Chand, have ditched Prachanda, while intellectual leader Ghanashyam Bhusal is not with Nepal. The NCP is taken by surprise: How it will influence voters to retain its image and revive party.
Similarly, the UML led by KP Sharma Oli had to conduct party’s National Congress a year earlier than the scheduled time in a bid to the address the changed context largely triggered by the Gen Z movement and growing demand for change of guard in the party. Although Oli retained his grip in the party with his reelection as party Chairman, influential leaders like Ishwor Pokhrel is not happy to see the party development. Leader Pokhrel insisted that Oli had to hand over leadership in view of the Gen Z movement, but conversely, Oli accumulated his power. The demand of internal democracy was raised much in the UML by youth leaders, including Usha Kiran Timsena and Bidya Pande, but subdued, with likely negative impact on the overall political performance.
Determination of Balen, former mayor of Kathmandu metropolis, on an electoral battle in Oli’s stronghold in Jhapa district is drawing enormous attention and frenzy beyond the UML.
Another phenomenal event in Nepali politics was the special general convention (SGC) of the Nepali Congress held recently in the federal capital, Kathmandu that elected Gagan Thapa as its President. It was the biggest shock not only to the NC but to entire national politics. The grand old party of Nepal, Nepali Congress, that elected firebrand leader Gagan Thapa as new President, thereby relieving Sher Bahadur Deuba from the party presidency.
It was an unceremonious moment for Deuba and his camp in the NC that made last-ditch efforts to prevent Gagan camp from holding SGC. Later, although both sides claimed their legitimacy before Election Commission, the Thapa-led NC got authenticity and legitimacy.
These conventions were held in the back up of the drive forwarded in response to the Gen Z protest. The HoR election is being held at such a critical time that major old parties are facing double threats: internal difference and conflict, and the surge of the new ones. So, these parties are now in dire need to immediately patch up the internal difference and conflict on the one other hand and build assertive position and earn public trust in a short time amidst new ones’ craze on the other.
The electoral alliance for which the NC and UML were said to making homework before NC’s SGC was in casualty after the rise of Gagan Thapa as NC president. It is equally an unforgettable event causing bewilderment to the old parties.
Resignation spree
Other elements to add bewilderment to the old parties is the resignation spree of the people’s representatives on the eve of the filing of candidacy for direct election. Those holding elected posts at local and provincial governments and even the ministers in interim federal government have resigned from the post to climb a political ladder, leading to the federal seat.
Dozens of people’s representatives, including rapper-turned leader at local level, Balendra Shah (Balen), campaigner-turned leader Harka Sampang Rai, and others have resigned to file candidacies under the direct election for HoR. Balen has been termed as a brand rather than as a person by his supporters. Balen’s joining with RSP led by Rabi Lamichhane, has further drawn the crowd.
Balen, who witnessed a tussle with federal government, and Sampang, who showed dissatisfaction to the national politics, finally entered the politics, giving impetus to public questions to old parties and aging leaders. These are undoubtedly new challenges before the NC, the UML and the NCP. Their common feature is anti-incumbency drive.
They are given further boost by the resignation of Kulman Ghising, Bablu Gupta, Jagadish Kharel, and Mahabir Pun from the ministerial posts from interim government.
Moreover, the ambition to secure federal seat is shown by other leaders at local and provincial levels. Former Chief Minister of Madhes Province, Satish Kumar Singh, resigned from the post; so did Sudurpaschim Province Assembly member Dr Tara Joshi and Bagmati Province Assembly member Yub Raj Dulal (Sharad).
New faces to watch
Lately, news has come that the old parties NC and UML have changed some candidates, giving priority to new faces. It, however, seems a tough time for the old ones to negotiate the drive of ‘old versus new parties’ and the ‘aging versus youth candidates’. Although the anti-incumbency drive was vehement within some old parties while mild in others, it is worth-noting that the anti-incumbency was/is a major campaign of the new parties, which may further dent the old guards.
The March 5 election is being conducted amidst such bewilderments. Let’s wait and see how the old and new parties, and the aging and young faces fare the electoral battles. #nepal #election rrs
