CONFUSED VOTERS
The
Kathmandu Post
10
November 2017
CONFUSED
VOTERS
The
country will enter into the federal structure soon after the completion of
upcoming federal and provincial elections scheduled for November 26 and
December 7. Successful elections will ensure also the implementation of our new
constitution. According to the Election Commission (EC), all the necessary
preparations are over for holding the polls. All the candidates vying for the
elections are busy with their election campaigns to lure voters with their ambitious
political manifestos.
However,
people seem confused about some issues related to powers, functions and duties
of the central government and provincial governments (“Voters ‘unaware’ of duties of centre and state govts” November 9,
Page 1). The political parties have added more to the confusions with their
political agendas being almost the same for both the federal and provincial polls.
In fact, the Constitution has categorised powers and responsibilities of all
the three layers of government-central, provincial and local. The political
parties and their candidates have not been educating the voters on the
differences of the provincial and federal parliaments and governments.
Likewise, they have not been able to make clear their agendas for these systems
of governance.
There are
35 authorities of the federal government, and 21 duties and functions of the
provincial governments explicitly listed in the constitution. Likewise, 25
concurrent powers are shared between the central government and provincial governments
and 15 concurrent powers are shared among the local, provincial and federal
governments. Looking closely at the ongoing political environment, it seems
that the major political parties themselves are confused. They do not seem to
have done enough home work to learn about the functions, duties, powers and
governance system of the federal structure. This will ultimately affect the
smooth functioning of the provinces.
Rai Biren Bangdel
Maharjgunj
