CPN-UML to Prioritize Nationalism in Upcoming Election Manifesto

Kathmandu. The CPN-UML is set to place the issue of nationalism as the top priority when drafting its election manifesto for the House of Representatives elections scheduled for Falgun 21. Dr. Bhishma Adhikari, Secretary of the UML Central Office, informed that the manifesto is being written under the leadership of party Chairman KP Sharma Oli.

'The work of writing the manifesto is underway under the Chairman's leadership. It will probably be made public in the first or second week of Falgun,' Adhikari told Ratopati. 'This time, our election manifesto will be precise and clear. National interest will be the first priority in it.'

The CPN-UML's Secretariat meeting held on Poush 22 last year formed a six-member election manifesto drafting committee under the leadership of Chairman Oli. The committee members include Vice-Chairmen Ram Bahadur Thapa 'Badal', Bishnu Paudel, General Secretary Shankar Pokharel, and leaders Ishwar Pokharel, Pradeep Gyawali, and Bishnu Rimal.

In the 2079 House of Representatives election, the UML put forward the slogan 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali,' emphasizing good governance, development, prosperity, and equality. It placed the slogan 'Five Years: UML Will Do It' at the forefront.

The UML, which had 'Strong Nationalism and Consolidated Democracy' as its core mantra and national resolution, along with aspirations like 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali' in the previous election manifesto, participated in the government under Prachanda's leadership once and formed a government under its own leadership in alliance with the Congress, even though it did not run the government for the full term. However, the government formed under Chairman Oli's leadership in the Congress alliance collapsed due to the Genji movement on Bhadra 23 and 24.

'The CPN-UML is conscious, committed, and sensitive towards the nation, nationalism, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national unity. It will strengthen and consolidate national unity through justice, equality, harmony, prosperity, and pride,' the CPN-UML had stated that it would 'develop friendship, activism, and unity as the national policy and fundamental character of Nepali society.' Having included the theme of 'Strong Nationalism and Consolidated Democracy' in the core mantra of the manifesto, the UML is preparing to include its previous key issues in this manifesto, arguing that it could not complete its full term to fulfill the commitments made during the election.

Similarly, in the 2079 election manifesto, the UML had set a goal to double the per capita income through 20 guarantees, which included citizenship only for Nepalis, 'Hunger No Linger,' domestic production, foreign markets, secure roofs: everyone's desire, employment for the youth, education for the future, and managing pressure/sugar without medicine, among other issues.

Furthermore, the UML had committed to goals such as free meters for drinking water: ten thousand liters, water for fields: not in the Gulf, youth in the homeland, daily road expansion: basis for development infrastructure, underground wires: cities and towns, no line: online services, 5 lakh employment: minimum wage 25 thousand, connection with prosperity: bank account for everyone, 5G communication: IT miracle, we are social: civilized citizens, and our economy: 100 Kharba.

'Strong Nationalism and Consolidated Democracy, Sustainable Economic Development and High Economic Growth Rate, Scientific Management of Land' will be included in the manifesto,' says Bishnu Rimal, a member of the manifesto drafting committee. 'There is no question of abandoning the issue of strong nationalism while continuing a balanced foreign policy.'

Although a UML-Maoist alliance government was formed under the leadership of then CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda immediately after the Mangsir 2079 elections, the UML did not move forward to implement the issues raised in its manifesto.

However, the UML withdrew from the Prachanda-led government after two months. Later, even when a Congress-UML alliance government was formed under the leadership of CPN-UML Chairman Oli in Ashar 2081, the UML showed little interest in implementing the commitments mentioned in its manifesto.

The UML, which had promised to double the per capita income through 20 guarantees in the previous election, had also stated its intention to significantly increase national income through the commercialization of agriculture and the expansion of small, medium, and large-scale industries. It also mentioned expanding tourism-based services, increasing the number of foreign tourists visiting Nepal to 2.5 million within five years, increasing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 100 Kharba within five years, and raising the average per capita income of Nepalis to Rs 3 lakh (2400 US dollars).