With the approaching local election amplifies the pace of political discourse. The enthusiasm and excitement brought by the local election in town and villages are well reflected in media. 20 years of long wait or let’s say after resolving the political agreement of democratizing the nation, people are finally getting their chance to cast vote to elect their local representatives. Still with strong objection from Madhes based political parties demanding the amendment of constitution, country is on verge to elect more than 39,000 local leaders across the nation with restructured local government structure as Nagarpalika and Gaunpalika. The provision of having women and marginalized people’s representative is something interesting to watch out this time with over 14 million people being eligible to vote. For last 14 years, it was bureaucratic bodies who handled the local government.
The announcement of local election definitely has built the gusto in general public as election is the best possible form of exercising democratic rights, however, choosing the right leader is must which all agrees looking at the current political assortments in Nepal. The dimension of choosing right leader is being well taken and forward by the alternative political forces who announced their goal of cleansing the politics culture in Nepal. Also considering the fact of less number of elections in Nepal for last 3 decades, specially a local election, it is sure that the delight and interest this election will bring is going to create buzz to garner world’s attention towards our nation. Looking at the preparation of election commission, media backing on flashing the election news, drive of local leaders in promotion and most importantly people’s anticipation to use voting rights after huge gap are some prominent factors that can make this election popular. Of course, there has to be effective role of every stakeholders to make sure this election is free and fair. If we quote major headlines of newspaper and online media these days, the headline denotes the following thoughts ‘number of potential candidates are high’ ‘potential candidates march to capital for ticket lobby’ ‘excitement in district for local poll’ and something like these. This is very obvious that number of aspiring candidates would be high when a full generation is voting for the first time and others did not vote for a while.
Having said about the election’s potential and prospects, there are group urging the uncertainty of election considering the objection of Madhes based political parties and main opposition UML’s stand on not agreeing to amend constitution to meet release the objection of dissatisfied groups. Looking the Nepalese politics through south block’s spectacles is another reason why some think tanks are still doubtful on holding the successful election within mentioned time frame. Also the constitutional obligation of holding three elections in ten months’ frame is something which is making election commission and government to work extra and making it happen. Conducting 3 elections in 10 months is tough call for sure but there’s no alternative to this considering the chances of constitutional vacuum. The historic local election is allowing large number of women, Dalit and marginalized community’s representative to be a part of local election. This time it’s not only the provision but seems to be mandatory ; for instance ward election ensures one women and one Dalit women as the member of ward committee. The local government will be responsible to draft the local policies and the local representative later act the member of upper house with some designated bigger roles.
Now the role of every concerned stakeholders is to promote the local election and encourage that meaningful participation in every way possible. There is still some reservation from agitating forces saying ‘constitution amendment first before election’. Consequently, the major political parties should come together may be for last time before we move towards institutionalizing constitutional democratic practices. We have witnessed in the past that consensus notion has really worked well in settling our political disputes. Let us agree there’s no alternative of local election, because after the devastating earthquake in 2015 we faced challenges in distribution of relief and still are facing challenge in reconstruction and rehabilitation due to nonexistence of responsible representative or elected local government. The local offices are all set to get full with elected councils to penetrate local development considering a long gap.
Saugat Gautam 