Election Preparations Underway as Parties Finalize Manifestos Ahead of Polls

Kathmandu. Only 37 days remain until the date set for voting in the House of Representatives elections.

The Election Commission has stated that preparations for the election, which follows the Gen Z movement, are nearly complete. Voters are ready to elect their preferred party and candidates through the new election. Political parties and candidates have also started meeting with voters to solicit votes immediately after filing their candidacies.

The Election Commission has designated the period from Falgun 3 until the start of the silence period for election campaigning, rallies, and assemblies. Nevertheless, candidates are busy meeting and discussing with voters in their constituencies to woo them.

From Rastriya Swatantra Party's Balen Shah, put forward as a potential future Prime Minister, to Congress's Gagan Thapa and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, all face the challenge and hustle of getting themselves and their party's candidates elected. Although political parties and candidates are approaching the public with verbal assurances and development slogans, no political party or candidate, except for JSP Nepal, has yet published an election manifesto.

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Major political parties had stated during the nomination process that they had formed draft committees and started working on manifesto construction. In this process, most parties have said that work is underway to write manifestos incorporating issues like development, good governance, and prosperity.

In this election, new parties are attempting to capitalize on the fervor of the Gen Z movement, while old parties appear to be striving to maintain their dominance. Following the Gen Z movement on Bhadra 23 and 24, old political parties face the challenge of putting forward new agendas, while new parties face the challenge of attracting voters by incorporating issues that are different from the old ones and align with public aspirations.

Given the strong criticism in past elections regarding the non-implementation of promises made in manifestos when soliciting votes, there is pressure on old parties in this election to include only concrete, implementable programs and plans in their manifestos.

On the other hand, new parties that have emerged as alternatives to old parties like Congress, UML, and CPN are under compulsion to prepare new and implementable manifestos with the dream of a new Nepal.

The Nepali Congress has announced that it will prepare its manifesto under the leadership of Gagan Thapa, who was elected through a special general convention.

Central Committee member Subash Thapa stated that the first Central Committee meeting after the convention decided to write the manifesto under the leadership of President Thapa.

Thapa mentioned that the manifesto is being prepared based on the reports of the then General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma, which were passed in the special convention.

The UML formed its manifesto writing committee first, under the convenorship of Chairman KP Sharma Oli. UML is preparing to continue the main slogan of the last election, 'Prosperous Nepal: Happy Nepali,' this time as well.

Vice Chairman Bishnu Paudel stated that the manifesto is being written with the resolution to make UML a 'decisive national force' in the election.

Another leader, Pradeep Gyawali, said, 'The political issues of how to bring democracy back on track and how to strengthen the state will be included in the manifesto.' He added, 'The manifesto will focus on good governance, economic prosperity, confronting climate change, the development of information technology, and the progress achievable with its support.'

The UML manifesto draft committee, chaired by Chairman Oli, includes Vice Chairmen Ram Bahadur Thapa and Bishnu Paudel, General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel, and leaders Ishwar Pokhrel, Pradeep Gyawali, and Bishnu Rimal as members.

The CPN (Communist Party) is preparing to include good governance, social justice, and prosperity as key issues in its manifesto for this election. According to Rajendra Shrestha, a member of the CPN's manifesto writing committee, although the draft committee is preparing the draft, the date for its public release has not been set.

Leader Shrestha told Ratopati, 'The preliminary preparation is to finalize the draft by Magh 16. Work is proceeding accordingly. However, the date for public release has not been set.'

Shrestha claimed that the CPN is preparing to emphasize national independence, good governance, social justice, employment, and prosperity in its manifesto.

The CPN's manifesto writing committee includes leaders Premesh Hamal, Bhim Rawal, Dev Gurung, Girirajmani Pokharel, Shakti Basnet, Haribol Gajurel, Rajendra Shrestha, Pampha Bhusal, Ramchandra Jha, Hari Chaudhary, Hakikulla Khan, Ajambar Kangle, among others.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party has announced that it is preparing its manifesto under the convenorship of Deputy Chairman Swarnim Wagle. RSP Deputy Chairman DP Aryal stated that the manifesto is being prepared rapidly. However, he also informed that the date for the manifesto's public release has not been set and it will take a few more days. Aryal told Ratopati, 'We will include the issues desired by the country and the people in the manifesto.'

Aryal stated that the manifesto will address good governance, employment, and the demands of the Gen Z movement. 'The pledge document will be formulated based on how to establish good governance, end corruption, create employment, and address and implement the demands of the Gen Z movement, and we will solicit votes on that basis,' Aryal told Ratopati. 'Since we are not allowed to distribute it to the public before Falgun 4, we will release it around that time.'

In addition, parties including Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Janmat Party, Ujyalo Nepal, and CPN Samajwadi have also stated that they are preparing their election manifestos.