Energy Expert Prakash Dulal Analyzes Election as 'GenZ Movement Part 3' Targeting Political Shift

Kathmandu. Prakash Dulal, an experienced energy expert in Nepal's energy sector and a hydropower promoter, is considered a policy analyst. Dulal, who holds a Master's degree in Management, is equally assertive in economic and policy debates. Having been involved in leftist politics for a long time, Dulal currently holds a non-positive view of leftist parties.

Dulal, who is moderate towards the GenZ movement, believes the movement should be viewed in three parts. He views the election as the third part of the GenZ movement, which he understands will bring change to the CPN-UML.

He concludes that Part 1 changed the government and Part 2 brought change within the Nepali Congress. He argues that policy stability will come because the leftists will not be dominant in the parliament after the election. Below is an excerpt from the conversation Ratopati had with Dulal, who has recently been active in research as a political thinker (the full video can be viewed):

How do you view this election? Is this election different from previous ones?

The GenZ movement was related to good governance. It was not a movement for political change. The youth's complaint is that good governance was not established, and because of the lack of good governance, they could not secure employment, forcing them to go abroad. The youth understand that the older generation of leaders is responsible for this. Now, an atmosphere has been created where the youth, not the old, and the new, not the established, are preferred. This has shaped this election as a battle between generations in politics.

The UML Chairman said this is a fight between those who burn the country and those who build it.

If he had stepped down on the 23rd, the UML could have saved the country. His stubbornness is what burned the country. At the end of the Statute General Convention, instead of asking, 'Who is this GenZ?' he should have said, 'Hey GenZ brothers and sisters, youth, what do you have? Come, let's talk, let's discuss. The government invites you for talks, what is the agenda?' If he had discussed the agenda, wouldn't that have been better?

By being in government and failing to address the aspirations of the youth, getting deeply involved in corruption, imposing autocracy within the party and outside the party, and thinking of controlling social media because the public became aware—it is because of him that the country is burning. He neither saved the party nor the country. The country is burning due to his stubbornness. Therefore, he is the one burning the country.

Yet, they say KP Oli's popularity has not decreased?

No candidate from the UML thinks that bringing KP Oli to campaign will increase their votes. And I don't think the Chairman of the CPN-UML will address any constituency other than Jhapa-5, his own electoral area, and Bhaktapur-2, where he resides. Colleagues who changed the statute six months ago and elected the chairman with overwhelming votes in the General Convention four months ago are not in a position to bring their chairman to their own candidacy locations.

They say this election is weakening, destroying the leftist movement, and bringing in foreign agents.

The Nepali Army invited the US Army to celebrate Army Day at Tundikhel on the day of Shivaratri. This tradition of inviting foreign armies started in 2075 BS when Pradip Gyawali was the Foreign Minister and KP Oli was the Prime Minister. Were they not considered foreign then when the same army paraded? It is communist logic to use something for one's own interest while in power, but call it against national interest when outside power.

For a long time, significant foreign investment entered the communist party through NGOs. In that context, Trump said that the investment we are making in Nepal is fraud. Those who eat the money of others and abuse them are the frauds—that means Oli, the UML, the communists. The 12-point agreement was made in India. When the King had to be removed, we praised the foreign ambassador, not criticized them. Taking money from foreigners to run the party and the country, taking foreign aid for one's own treatment, taking foreign aid to educate one's children, and then crying foul about foreign interference?

Is the UML the most disadvantaged by this election? Or who is?

Rather than any specific political party, the parliament has had a left domination since 2064 BS. After this election, the representation of leftists in parliament is going to decrease significantly.

Does this benefit the country or harm it?

It benefits the country.

How?

For the last 30 years, no changes were made to the laws. All the laws that were changed were not industry-friendly laws. Regulatory laws were made, and the foreign policy was similar.

After this election, who benefits the most, RSP or Congress?

Rather than who gains or loses in terms of parties, the parliament of left domination will no longer exist after this election. It will move out of that phase. The weakest will be the leftist parties. And this could be the reason that marks the beginning of the decline of communists in Nepal.

Even after the election, there will not be political stability; there is a possibility of upheavals. After all, can novices run a country?

There is suspicion among people because the majority parties in the past did not provide stability. We used to hear the same things when KP Oli was Home Minister and Madhav Nepal was Foreign Minister. Everyone was of GenZ age group then. These old people have spread illusions.

Can you state something positive that will happen after the election?

Previously, many acts and laws were left-guided. That did not create a conducive working environment. Now, the government, our mindsets, the bureaucracy, and the laws will create an environment that encourages working people. A working environment will be established in Nepal. Laws will be made for the protection of those who work hard.

Is that possible?

A non-left government will be formed now. KP Oli has been controlling the state through the courts, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), and various constitutional bodies for the last 10-12 years; this election will remove him. This election has come as Part-3 of the GenZ movement.

Do you see KP Oli as the main obstacle?

Sher Bahadur Deuba, one obstacle, was removed by Part-2 of the GenZ movement. The special convention of the Congress was Part-2 of the GenZ movement. Part-1 removed the government, and Part-2 reformed the Congress. Now, Part-3 will remove those who call GenZ terrorists. If Part-3 of the GenZ movement had not succeeded, the GenZ movement would have been incomplete.

How and where will the GenZ movement be completed?

The GenZ movement cannot be completed without defeating Oli. The main responsibility to complete the GenZ movement and fulfill its mandates is to defeat KP Sharma Oli. Balen went to Jhapa-5 precisely because Oli must be defeated for the movement to be complete.

Video/Photo: Manoj Khadka