Analysis of Recent Election Results: A Public Mandate for Stability and Change

Various interpretations and analyses of the recently concluded House of Representatives election results are ongoing. Analysts' interpretations naturally differ based on their respective philosophies, principles, and viewpoints. For instance, advocacy for populism, status quoism, socialism, communism, or conservatism is based on those respective ideologies.

However, a realistic analysis, free from the lens of independent thought or ideology, has been rarely seen.

The principle of cause and effect states that a specific outcome requires a preceding cause. For example, a plant growing from a seed; here, the seed is the cause, and the plant is the effect. I view this in connection with the recently concluded election results. There are many proximate causes for this outcome. Let us not delve into the broader aspects for now. Observing the peaceful conduct of this election, the most peaceful in Nepali history, one can say there was a significant underlying cause leading to this result.

This election has sent a message that the Nepali people must always unite for political stability and national development. This should not be considered merely the result of despair. It must be understood as a clear message from the people driven by an intense aspiration for good governance, prosperity, and development. The people exercised their judgment, believing the country should not remain in its current state. The majority of Nepali people silently rebelled against their own parties, ideologies, and beliefs through the ballot box this time.

The established political parties, which consider themselves mainstream and possess warm relations with the public and strong organizations, have been signaled by the people that they must either correct themselves through pro-people actions or be prepared for their demise.

Why the Shift in Votes?

Our country has suddenly awakened with an intense desire for good governance, political stability, development, and prosperity. It is rare for the country to unite so decisively through the people's mandate. A historic opportunity for political stability has arrived after decades. The mandate provided by Nepalis, rising above regionalism, ethnicity, language, color, and class, presents both an opportunity and a challenge.

On the other hand, the Nepali people have expressed their desire for a brighter future and a change in the country they live in, even disregarding the parties they previously held faith in. A hungry stomach does not seek philosophy, doctrine, or scripture; it seeks bread first.

Indicating this, Madan Bhandari once said, 'Life is not for principles; principles should be for life.' The people made this decision this time by setting aside their political philosophies, loyalties, faiths, and principles in pursuit of a significant change in their difficult lives and the overall state of the nation. This election has delivered the message that unity is essential for national development through political stability.

In a country adopting a mixed electoral system like ours, it is rare for a new party, which has not been adequately tested or integrated among the people, to secure a two-thirds majority. The Nepali people have entrusted this historic responsibility to a new party through the ballot box.

This has fundamentally altered the situation where the old guard dominated the governance structure like a musical chair game, with different faces but the same nature, and leaders being more significant than policies.

State Responsibility

The people are not demanding anything overly ambitious immediately. They are not asking to be taken to the moon, given rides on electric trains, or provided with luxurious lives. They are seeking employment opportunities within their own country. They seek a situation where they can utilize their labor, hard work, and sweat within their homeland.

To achieve this, they expect the eradication of corruption, the creation of extensive employment opportunities, the provision of easy and transparent government services, the establishment of public trust in the state through the rule of law, swift and efficient justice delivery from the judiciary, and simply seeing the bureaucracy provide services without self-interest.

The people gave their invaluable votes to the new political party to create this very situation.

Points to Note

Furthermore, because the new party ignited aspirations among the extremely disillusioned public, they were handed the bag of responsibility through the ballot paper this time. They also hold expectations from this party. If the people's aspirations are not met, the resulting situation could be even more dire.

It is certain that voters, who are inherently unstable in their disposition, will punish the new party in the next election if it fails to deliver pro-people work. Therefore, the new party and its victorious candidates must pay close attention to this. The election results should be utilized in the field of nation-building, not merely as a victory or defeat for someone.

At such a juncture, the victors must learn from experienced, senior politicians within the country and from history, and proceed with sensitivity regarding the changing internal and global political landscape. Positive cooperation from everyone in their respective capacities is the need of the hour for national development.

It should be remembered that the rising new party did not achieve this level of mandate through any popular actions. This election expressed a broken trust in the style of the old party leaders and parties. Therefore, there is no need for excessive excitement or display of arrogance. Popular slogans should not be used merely for public consumption.

The main concern is that the new political party must be equally vigilant to ensure that our current situation does not deteriorate further given our sensitive geopolitical position. Furthermore, in the arrogance of the public mandate, no anti-national treaties or agreements should be signed.

What the Nepali people need is change and stability. 'Whether the cat is black or white, it must catch mice.' Therefore, instead of just opposing, let us now monitor the new party while allowing it to work.