FAIR POLITICS
The Kathmandu Post
19 November 2017
FAIR
POLITICS
The nation will enter into the federal
structure soon after the completion of the upcoming provincial and federal
elections scheduled for November 26 and December 7. All the political parties
including the democratic alliance led by Nepali Congress (NC) and left alliance
of CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre, are in the midst of campaigning. Senior
leaders of the major parties have started visiting different constituencies to
garner support for their provincial and federal candidates.
The blame game that major
political parties espouse during the election is back, and it is not unusual at
all to see parties attack each other with allegations. However, the blaming of the
NC led government by the left alliance for scrapping the agreement with China Construction
Group to build the 1,200 MW hydroelectric project seems to be serious in terms
of its national importance (“Oli, Dahal
accuse govt of working ‘ on a whim’, November 16, Page 1). Was it really
for national interest that the PK Dahal led government signed the deal with the
Chinese group in first place? If so, why did the Deuba led government decide to
scrap the agreement? Was it simply for the cause of collecting the money for
the elections as alleged by Oli and Dahal? If this not a gross violence of
election codes of conduct?
On the other hand, the Election
Commission (EC) has been urging the political parties not to use their money
and muscles during the election as this could influence the elections and harm
the democratic process (“EC ‘concerned’
about ‘secret financial dealings’ November 16, Page 3). However, the EC has
failed to take stern action against codes of conduct violators. Only showing concern
does not guarantee that the financial deals are not taking place. The time has
come for EC to be more vigilant.
Rai
Biren Bangdel
Maharajgunj
http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2017-11-19/fair-politics.html
