CPN-UML's Election Manifesto Deemed Ambitious and Populist by Analysts

Kathmandu. The manifesto published by the CPN (UML) for the upcoming House of Representatives election-2082 appears ambitious and distribution-oriented.

The most ambitious part of the manifesto is the goal to increase the size of Nepal's economy to 100 Kharba within 5 years. Currently, the size of Nepal's economy is around 53 Kharba rupees. To nearly double it to 100 Kharba in 5 years, Nepal would need to achieve an average annual economic growth rate of 15 to 20 percent. Given that Nepal's historical average economic growth rate is only 4-5 percent, achieving this target seems difficult.

Currently, the average per capita income of Nepalis is around 1400 US dollars. UML claims to raise this to 3000 dollars within 5 years. The basis for achieving in the next 5 years the progress that could not be achieved in the past decades is not clearly stated in the manifesto. To meet this target, the level of revolution required in production and exports has not yet had its infrastructure prepared.

Distribution-Oriented Programs and Burden on State Treasury

UML has introduced popular slogans such as 10 GB free internet for youth, interest-free loans up to 20 lakh rupees, and increased maternity allowance to 20 thousand rupees. The cost incurred by providing free data to millions of youth aged 18 to 28, and who will bear the burden of interest-free loans provided by banks, remains unanswered.

These programs of loan waivers and increased allowances risk promoting consumption over productive investment and adding long-term liabilities to the state treasury. UML's announcement to raise the minimum wage for workers to 25 thousand rupees monthly sounds attractive for laborers. It does not seem possible to increase the current wage of 17 thousand 3 hundred by 44 percent at once.

While the idea of using AI for corruption control sounds very modern and scientific, Nepal's administrative machinery is not yet fully digitalized.

When facing 'server down' issues even for routine government services, the idea of solving complex corruption cases using AI appears highly ambitious. UML's manifesto presents dreams, but it has not provided a concrete basis for where the 'financial source' to fulfill those dreams will come from.