Nepali Congress Rushing to Finalize Manifesto Led by Gagan Thapa for Upcoming By-elections

Kathmandu. The Nepali Congress is busy preparing its manifesto under the leadership of party President Gagan Kumar Thapa for the House of Representatives by-elections scheduled for Falgun 21. However, since President Thapa is currently in his constituency, Sarlahi-4, the coordination of the manifesto writing is being handled by his confidant, Pratap Poudel.

Poudel informed Ratopati that 10 key themes have been selected to be included in the manifesto, and preparations are underway based on these themes. "We have created a 'Vision-10' theme for writing the manifesto. It contains 10 subjects," Poudel said. "We are preparing the manifesto primarily by incorporating the top 10 priority issues, focusing on good governance and prosperity."

According to Poudel, the theme of 'Prosperous Nepal, Respected Nepali,' which President Thapa strongly emphasized during the Mahasamiti meeting held in Godawari and the Special General Convention in Poush, is also being used as a basis for the manifesto preparation.

The team preparing the manifesto intends to make the issue of good governance, which was strongly raised during the Gen-Z movement on Bhadra 23 and 24, the core mantra of the document.

"The House of Representatives election on Falgun 21 is taking place on the foundation of the Gen-Z movement of Bhadra 23 and 24. The Congress will incorporate the foundations for institutionalizing the achievements following that uprising in the manifesto," Poudel stated. "The points of the manifesto are being written based on the good governance and prosperity demanded by the Gen-Z. We are writing the manifesto with this as the main theme. Vision 10 is a part of the manifesto."

The Congress has updated a graphic post on the party's official Facebook page titled 'Vision-10 of Good Governance and Prosperity' with the slogan 'Congress Changed, We Will Change the Country.' Poudel confirms that this graphic was prepared for the manifesto. Poudel mentioned that 'Vision 10' will encompass good governance, prosperity, a prosperous Nepal, respected Nepali, and social and economic issues. When asked by Ratopati if all subjects within Vision 10 could be disclosed, Poudel replied, "You will find out once the manifesto is released."

The team involved in the writing process is currently gathering input from various levels and sectors of the party regarding the subjects to be included in the manifesto. Poudel stated that once President Thapa returns to Kathmandu from Sarlahi on Friday, the formal team for manifesto writing will be announced, and a decision will be made on when to publicly release it. Before that, Thapa is preparing to consult with Vice Presidents Bishwaprakash Sharma and Pushpa Bhusal, and General Secretaries Gururaj Ghimire and Pradip Poudel.

The Congress is also preparing to include in the manifesto the fact that the party initiated internal change by transforming its leadership through a Special General Convention held from Poush 27 to 30, as the Gen-Z movement demanded change. Leaders also mentioned that the announcement of the party's candidate for Prime Minister after the election will be included to make it easier for voters. The Central Working Committee meeting of the Congress on Magh 9 had decided to nominate President Thapa as the candidate for the next Prime Minister. This is the first time the Congress has announced a future Prime Ministerial candidate through a decision by the Central Committee. Leaders say this was done to make it easier for voters.

After a long time, the Congress has broken the culture of alliances and fielded its candidates in all 165 constituencies. Furthermore, it has given an opportunity to 106 individuals for the first time. The manifesto writing team is preparing to include the point that new candidates were given a chance because the Gen-Z movement criticized the continuous presence of the same individuals in power and parliament. Congress leaders analyze that this will start a change within the party and increase proportional votes.

Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala says that having party candidates in all constituencies might increase the number of proportional votes. "The party has candidates in all 165 constituencies. This is a positive aspect," Dr. Koirala told reporters on Tuesday. "This will help increase the proportional votes received in the name of the party."

Leaders state that the manifesto will show signs that the Congress is moving forward with more novelty than newer parties like the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). After the RSP announced Balen Shah, the outgoing Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, as its future Prime Ministerial candidate, the Congress, as a counter, announced President Thapa as its future Prime Ministerial candidate through the Central Committee meeting. One official states this is a strategy.

Poudel explains that the current work involves listing subjects by consulting with party leaders working at the grassroots level, and subsequent discussions will be held with subject matter experts in phases to reach conclusions on those subjects. Poudel states that they are preparing the manifesto by including achievable goals rather than overly ambitious ones.

The manifesto will contain a clear outline of what the party will do if it wins the election and comes to power, and in what direction it will take the country within a specific timeframe. Poudel says they are not in favor of a document created merely to win elections.

Besides that, the Congress is also incorporating election-focused policies in the manifesto. The party policy of 'Responsibility where assigned, effort there' will be included in the manifesto.

Vice President Bishwaprakash Sharma has sent a circular instructing office bearers and members at various levels to be deployed in their respective assigned areas from Magh 21 to Falgun 21. Vice President Sharma has been stating in election-focused discussions that this strategy has been adopted to end the tendency of giving hollow speeches in the next election while doing nothing in one's own constituency. This subject will be mentioned in the 'Election Mobilization Directive' being prepared under Sharma's leadership, as Sharma stated during a discussion with party leaders and workers in Gandaki Province on Wednesday.