Small parties' big election agenda in Jhapa

- Mohammad Sadrul 
Bhadrapur, Jhapa, The 10 fringe parties that are contesting in the House of Representatives and the State Assembly elections in Jhapa district have unveiled their election agendas from a single place. 
Establishing equality and achieving prosperity for the country by ending all forms of discriminations are their major election platform. 
The leaders of these parties, speaking in a discussion programme facilitated by the Dialogue Group Jhapa here on Sunday, enthusiastically spelled out their parties' respective election agenda. They also expressed their full commitment in fulfilling these agendas. These parties with diverse views and involved in diverse movements have differing agendas. 
Some of the agendas put forth by the parties include dissolution of the federalism, annulment of the parliamentary system and establishing the communist rule. Although the parties might be small in terms of their size of the membership, their agendas are big. 
Ridding the country of corruption, bringing an agricultural revolution, ending the foreign meddling in the country, and ensuring education and employment to all are the common agendas of these parties. They have also emphasized o the need of purification of politics making it as a service rather than a means of earning. 
At the same time, these parties took the opportunity to call for making the election impartial, modest and dignified through strong security measures. They also expressed four-point common commitment to carry out peaceful activities fully abiding by the election code of conduct. 
The district coordinator of the Unified Rastroya Prajatantra Party (Nationalist), Laxmi Odari and the party's candidate for the House of Representatives election, Brij Kumar Thakur said that Nepal as a Hindu nation with monarchy was their party's main agenda. The RPP (Nationalist) has fielded five candidates for the House of Representatives election and eight candidates for the State Assembly elections in Jhapa district. 
Dr Nabin Chapagain, Chitrangad Timsina, Bishnu Acharya and Santosh Ghimire of the Bibeksheel Sajha Party stressed on purging corruption and promoting economic development in the country. The Bibeksheel Sajha Party is contesting in the House of Representatives the first-past-the-post election from four constituencies and the proportional representation election from two constituencies. Similarly, in the State Assembly elections it has fielded its candidates towards the first-past-the-post election from four constituencies and one towards the PR election. 
CPN (ML) politburo member and former minister Khagendra Prasain underscored the need of having five federal provinces in the country and the effective implementation of the constitution. The CPN (ML) is contesting in the House of Representatives and State Assembly elections from 18 constituencies in the district. 
Hom Chandra Ghimire and Hari Prasad Dahal of the Deshbhakta Ganatantrik Morcha Nepal called for abrogation of the parliamentary system and replacing it with what they called the people's democracy. The Morcha has fielded 11 candidates for the election in the district. 
Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Manch's Man Bahadur Sanwa and Nagendra Rai demanded establishment of a Limbuwan state and ending discrimination. This party is contesting in the House of Representatives and State Assembly elections from 15 constituencies. 
Nawaraj Dhungana of the Rastriya Janamorcha Party called for making Nepal a unitary system of government. The party has fielded two candidates in the election. 
The district president of the Mongol National Organization, Rudra Bahadur Rai underscored the need of recognizing the people of the Mongolian origin as the indigenous peoples and ending the racial discrimination. The Organization has fielded 29 candidates in the election. 
Surya Narayan Ganesh, the district coordinator of the Rastriya Janata Party, said his party's main election agenda is empowerment of the marginalized communities by ending all kinds of discriminations in the country. This party has fielded nine candidates. 
Nepal Janata Party's Indra Prasad Oli said Nepal as a Hindu republic is his party's main election agenda. This party is contesting in the elections from 14 constituencies both in the House of Representatives and State Assembly. 
The district president of the Rastriya Janamukti Party, Parsuram Magar stressed on the theme 'our development, our participation and our protection' as his party's election agenda. This party has fielded 21 candidates in Jhapa district in the twin elections. 
FNJ Jhapa district vice president Yek Raj Giri and advocate Khagendra Kharel facilitated the discussion on the theme – 'People's aspirations and your election agenda for commitment'. 
The representatives of these parties also drew the attention of the government and the local administration for ensuring peaceful conduction of the election. They called on the Election Commission to make the voter education more effective and strictly monitor compliance to the election code of conduct. 
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