Major Political Parties Delay Election Manifesto Releases Ahead of Polls

Kathmandu. Political parties, which previously tended to release their election manifestos centered in the capital, are set to decentralize the process this time around.

Many major political parties participating in the House of Representatives elections scheduled for Falgun 21 have yet to publish their election manifestos. The major political parties have disregarded the deadline set by the Election Commission for publishing their respective manifestos by Falgun 3.

Major political parties such as Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), along with their candidates, are currently conducting voter outreach and door-to-door campaigns without a manifesto.

Nepali Congress has announced plans to release its election manifesto from Dhanusha in Madhesh Province on Falgun 6. Similarly, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has stated it will unveil its election pledge document from Surkhet in Karnali Province on Falgun 7.

However, CPN-UML has not yet disclosed the date for publishing its manifesto.

Nepali Congress spokesperson Devraj Chalise informed that preparations are underway to release the election manifesto during a mass gathering in Janakpur on Falgun 6. He stated that the manifesto would be unveiled during the election rally attended by Congress President Gagan Thapa and other leaders.

Congress has prepared its manifesto, titled as a pledge document under the theme of 'Vision 10'. Congress President Gagan Thapa is a candidate from Sarlahi Constituency No. 4 in Madhesh Province in this election. It is suggested that Congress may be giving importance to Madhesh this time for this reason.

"Many have made many promises in elections before. But the consequences of unfulfilled promises were borne not by them, but by the people. We are not making unfulfillable promises; we are entering into a contract of pledge with the people," said RSP leader Pratibha Rawal. "We will release a detailed manifesto from Surkhet in Karnali on Falgun 7."

According to leader Rawal, the manifesto is set to be unveiled in the presence of party top leaders, including Chairman Rabi Lamichhane and senior leader Balen Shah. Rawal stated that launching the manifesto from Karnali should be understood as the party giving special priority to that province.

The other party, CPN-UML, has not even set a date for releasing its manifesto. CPN-UML Central Office Secretary Dr. Bhishma Adhikari informed that the manifesto is being prepared for release after UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli returns to Kathmandu, as he is currently busy with the election campaign in Jhapa.

"Preparations are underway. The Chairman is scheduled to return to Kathmandu on Falgun 6. It might happen on the 7th. If he returns earlier, it could be sooner," Adhikari said. "The location is currently expected to be Kathmandu."

Parties including the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), JSP Nepal, JSP, RPP, Ujyalo Nepal, Shram Sanskriti, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, and Progressive Democratic Party (Pradepa) have already published their election manifestos.