Nepali Congress Pledges Constitutional Amendment Post-Election in New Campaign Directive

Kathmandu. The Nepali Congress has stated its commitment to amend the constitution after the elections to make it timely. This is mentioned in the 'Nepali Congress Election Operation Directive - 082' circulated by the party's election operation committee coordinator and Vice-President, Bishwa Prakash Sharma.

Clause 28 of the 32-point directive states, 'The Nepali Congress is committed to making the existing constitution more contemporary and stronger by making necessary amendments through the upcoming parliament.'

The clause further adds, 'Our candidates and campaigners in the election field will deeply internalize the public mandate regarding this matter.'

The directive also mentions that the Congress will maintain high respect and dignity for the national flag. Furthermore, it states that campaigning should be conducted in a manner that 'the election field is not an arena of enmity, but a grand sacrifice of competition of ideas and personalities.'

The Congress has stated that no party or candidate in the election field is an enemy to the Nepali Congress, and its candidates will internalize this during the electoral competition.

Here is the directive circulated by the Congress 

1) It is natural for disagreements to arise on certain issues while working within any political party. However, during the election time, it is necessary for the entire party machinery to unite, forgetting all internal differences. Internalizing this, all colleagues should be inspired/motivated at their respective levels.

2) To effectively build new trust with voters by presenting the fact that the party has come forward as the 'New Congress, Alternative for a New Era' to the voters.

3) Following the Central Committee meeting unanimously putting forward President Gagan Kumar Thapa for the post of Prime Minister, the electoral atmosphere in favor of the party has been strengthening. The election campaign should be focused on skillfully establishing this candidacy before the voters and strongly earning their trust.

4) To play a role in making the election campaign healthy and dignified by fully adhering to the code of conduct issued by the Election Commission. To coordinate and cooperate with the local administration regarding making the election peaceful and fear-free.

5) It is the duty of all Nepalis to always maintain high respect for the national flag.

The number and method of use specified by the Election Commission must be followed by all parties, all candidates, and all types of campaigners.

8 The Congress will sensitively maintain high respect and high dignity for the national flag during the election campaign.

6) To present a point-wise summary of the political and economic achievements the country has made under the leadership of the Congress in the past to the voters. To promote the culture of contesting elections based on the work done by oneself.

7) While taking pride in past achievements, we are also recognizing and internalizing past shortcomings. While committing to moving forward by correcting shortcomings in the election field, we clarify: 'Only one who can change can bring change'. The fact that the journey of moving forward in a new way after identifying shortcomings has begun must be firmly presented to the voters.

8) 'Vision 10' of the party's manifesto is our vision, responsibility, and destination. This should be presented to the voters in a point-wise and detailed manner through media, social networks, and campaign platforms. To contribute positively to making the election focused on resolution and issues.

9) While expressing the party's commitment to local issues identified, the conclusion should be reached from the perspective of benefiting local citizens, not through the wrong political tendency of 'making any promise to win the election'.

10) Physical construction projects should be viewed, understood, and concluded not based on whims in any area, but from a 'feasible' and 'viable' perspective that can achieve benefits. The central team will formulate the vision regarding national plans, and the party must/will maintain the vigilance to form opinions on local projects based on local needs.

11) 'The election field is not an arena of enmity, but a grand sacrifice of competition of ideas and personalities'.

No party or candidate in the election field is an enemy to the Nepali Congress.

We must convey this culture through our behavior so that everyone can internalize it during the electoral competition.

12) The Nepali Congress adopts a policy of making healthy comments about its rival parties and their candidates, arguing with subject-specific logic when criticism is necessary, but not resorting to abuse.

The primary duty to make the election field healthy and cordial lies with the parties themselves, and Congress will play the role of nudging all other parties in this regard.

13) Our candidates and campaigners will refrain from making hateful, provocative, and inflammatory expressions. Normal and healthy satire is natural in the election field, but our public presentation will be completely restrained and mature.

14) In line with the expectations of the changed times and the resolution of the changed Congress, our candidates and campaigners in the election field will internalize the issues, feelings, thoughts, and dreams of the youth and express the resolution and commitment: 'Addressing the changed dreams of the youth, under the leadership of the changed Congress'.

 15) Candidates and campaigners will be committed to respecting good cultural traditions during the election campaign.

8 Candidates and campaigners will be sensitive and vigilant not to use any words or actions that hurt anyone's religious beliefs and to respect all diversities.

16) Respect for the independent press and media-friendly behavior is a fundamental tenet of the Nepali Congress.

Our candidates and coordinators of all levels of the campaign committee will easily accept questions, suggestions, and criticism from the press in the election field.

If any misleading news is published, they will refute it according to established procedures or draw the attention of the relevant body.

17) In the context where the election campaign is becoming less 'physical' and more 'digital', all members of the party will participate consciously in the use of social media.

Along with using materials created by the responsible local team, any promotional material created individually must be completely dignified. The monitoring committee in the constituency and the social media monitoring committee at the center will monitor the quality of promotional materials nationwide and will direct for necessary revisions when deemed appropriate.

18) Campaigners will firmly clarify the allegations leveled against the Nepali Congress in a factual, restrained, and easy manner through promotional materials and campaign rallies.

19) Elected members from the party at the local level will support the victory campaign in coordination with the party and candidates, within the limits of not violating the code of conduct.

20) Considering the reality that the process of friends who left the party for various reasons in the past returning to the party has begun nationwide, they will be brought into the party without any prejudice and urged to be active in their respective areas of influence.

21) Under the policy of 'Whoever has a positional responsibility will work there' from Falgun 1 to 21 with the commitment 'My 21 days for Falgun 21', all party colleagues will work in the election field.

Representatives assigned specific responsibilities by the center, province, district, and constituency will return to their own district/constituency/municipality and ward after completing their work in the assigned location.

All office bearers and members of the party at all levels, except those who have gone to take on assigned responsibilities elsewhere, will remain focused on their respective constituencies, municipalities, and wards.

Colleagues from one ward will not go to another ward and will work in their own wards with the slogan 'We will make our ward win'.

22) Active members of the party will work in the election campaign according to the 5/50 strategy. That is, 5 active members will remain in continuous contact with 50 households in their geography, forming a team. Such a team, including those who have recently come forward actively in the local ward neighborhood, will be responsible for delivering promotional materials to 50 households and motivating them to vote.

23) Keeping in mind the reality that 'Voter Education' is the responsibility of not only the government but also the parties, local colleagues of the party will be dedicatedly engaged in voter education work alongside campaigning, by dividing responsibilities.

24) Brotherly/Well-wisher and District Contact Committees will carry out tasks in their respective areas of responsibility in line with the spirit of the directive. They will primarily motivate office bearers and members down to the ward level of their organization towards a 'Digital Move'. District Contact Committees will focus on the 'Let's Go House to House, Let's Make Congress Win' campaign.

25) Nepali Public Relations Committees abroad, while coordinating and campaigning for Nepal as a whole and for the constituency they personally represent, will reach out to the maximum number of Nepalis abroad.

26) We must resolve to end many social anomalies such as human trafficking, caste discrimination, child labor, domestic violence, and drug addiction. During the election campaign, our candidates and campaigners will convey this issue as a universal responsibility and will be determined to instill the corresponding motivation. The use of children in the campaign is contrary to both law and culture. All levels of the party will be vigilant and sensitive to prevent this from happening.

27) Our campaign efforts will be sensitive to the resolve to win hearts before winning votes, with the sentiment 'Respect for Workers and Farmers, Ultimately Respect for All'.

28) The Nepali Congress is committed to making the existing constitution more contemporary and stronger by making necessary amendments through the upcoming parliament. Our candidates and campaigners in the election field will deeply internalize the public mandate regarding this matter.

29) While managing the necessary financial arrangements to advance the campaign, spontaneous cooperation will be accepted, but no pressure will be put on any large or small business anywhere in the country. A certain fund will be established in the area through cooperation with the participation of party members, realizing 'Shared Responsibility/Shared Ownership', to support the election campaign, avoid wasteful expenditure, and provide the expense details to the Election Commission within 15 days after the election.

30) It is necessary to energize the later life of all retired individuals, including former teachers, former soldiers, former police, and former employees, and utilize them for the benefit of society. During the election campaign, every constituency, municipality, and ward committee will create a specific mechanism to bring this network nationwide into extensive contact, involve them in responsibilities, and activate them in the party's victory campaign.

31) Thousands of Nepali youth who have spent a few years abroad are in the villages. Those who have returned from study, work, or business have their own level of contact and influence in the village society. The party's local network will reach, must reach, contact, coordinate, and mobilize through the action plan of the former expatriate department built by the party in the past.

32) All levels of the party will play a role in implementing the 'Public Program Management Directive' passed by the meeting of the Central Working Performance Committee to organize party programs.

33) As the victory campaign moves forward, local committees and candidates in every constituency will continuously take 'feedback' from professional sectors and intellectuals. Based on the suggestions received, they will modify and further organize the victory campaign as necessary.

34) The responsibility to implement this directive lies with all party candidates, office bearers of committees from the center down to the ward level, and all members.