Nepalis Spurn Moaist Election Boycott

[Guest guest]

Election is Backbone of Democracy in Nepal

By Ms Nina Khadka

 

"More than 70 political parties, both old and new ones, have

registered at the Election Commission and the people have a positive

outlook towards the municipal election as a forerunner of the

parliamentary election. While the people look enthusiastic for the

election the agitating seven political parties are desperate."

 

 

Less than 50 days remains to the municipal polls and this will be

the first time in more than six years that the people will be voting

for their representatives in the 58 municipalities. People in the

towns and cities are looking forward to the election as the first

step of the people's representatives taking over the governance once

again. The local bodies have remained without the people's

representatives after the Deuba government decided to abolish the

elected bodies instead of holding elections.

 

More than 70 political parties, both old and new ones, have

registered at the Election Commission and the people have a positive

outlook towards the municipal election as a forerunner of the

parliamentary election. While the people look enthusiastic for the

election the agitating seven political parties are desperate.

 

The political parties, especially Nepali Congress and the UML, know

that they will have to face total rejection of the people if they

fight the election. The primary reason of the parties opposing the

February 1 step is because the King talked about holding local level

elections within one year and the parliamentary election within

three years. Thus, they have taken to the negative tactic of not

allowing the holding of the election so that they could continue

claiming the public mandate of the last general and local level

elections.

 

That is why first the Nepali Congress and later the UML started

demanding for the reinstatement of the House of Representatives they

themselves had killed. It is now obvious that the seven parties do

not want any election and they have gone to the extent of joining

hands with the Maoists, who the parties themselves had declared

terrorists, to avoid going through the litmus test of the democratic

process. The parties also know if there is election and there are

long queues at the polling booths, their political future will be in

serious trouble.

 

But with the people spurning their call for boycott, the parties

said that they would resort to coercive tactics to disrupt the

election. A few days back, UML leader Madhav Kumar's cry of

desperation was that they would blockade the towns and cities not to

allow the polling.

 

But it looks certain that the public will shun the boycott of those

parties. Even if they can disrupt at a few places, a majority of the

people look determined to vote. With so many parties taking part and

people voting to elect their representatives, there will be no logic

if those parties or their foreign backers say that the election will

be valid only if the Nepali Congress or the UML participate in it.

They all know that in an election everybody is equal and all have

equal chance.

 

The government has said that it will take all necessary actions if

there is any attempt to disrupt the people's right to choose their

representatives through democratic process.

 

People have long been complaining that they were finding it

difficult to get local services and have suffered because of the

absence of people's representatives. Now, it is time for the people

to put their representatives in place for better delivery of the

services and above all to keep the wheels of democracy running.

 

Nepali elections being the soul and backbone of democracy, it is

imperative that all those who believe in democracy assist in making

the municipal polls a success. All sides should support the February

1 Royal Proclamation which was aimed at consolidating democracy and

restoring peace in the country. As for the upcoming polls, the

security apparatus has been remarkably strengthened and is geared to

providing full security during the municipal election slated for

February 8 next year. All necessary arrangements have been made as

per the requirement of the Election Commission (EC) to conduct the

election.

 

If the political parties who talk of boycotting the polls were to

take back their words, it would prove that they have faith in the

sovereign rights of the people and in democracy. The people are

eagerly waiting for the day when they will be able to exercise their

rights by casting their ballots in the election. The government's

sincere commitment is to leave no stone unturned to safeguard the

voting rights of the people. The security bodies are ready to

perform their duties in ensuring that the people can vote during the

election without any fear. This must instill relief in the people as

they will now be able to choose their representatives to man the

municipalities in the country.

 

The municipal election is just the first step in consolidating

democracy. It is to be later followed by the elections to the House

of Representatives within the next year according to the Nepalese

calendar. The democratic process has begun. Now, it is up to the

political parties to make it a success. Shying away from the polls,

as some political parties are doing, does not benefit anyone, rather

it will be detrimental to themselves.

 

If they consider themselves democratic, they must openly come

forward and take part in the polls. The polls are the way that the

political parties can prove their worth. If the people have faith in

any particular political party or individual, they will vote for

them. Herein, one point must be mentioned, and that is the fear

among the political parties that they will be rejected by the

people. This is because of their misdeeds in the past. However, if

they repent, they can assert their commitment to democracy and the

people's right to choose their representatives through the elections.

 

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