Litmus test for big parties

 The Himalayan Times

14 April 2022

Litmus test for big parties

Following the promulgation of the new constitution in September 2015, Nepal held the first local level elections in 20 years on May 14, 2017. These elections were the initial steps in the country’s transition to federalism and had provided a new opportunity for local participation in forming the local level governments. The election of the local representatives was designed to pave the way for the devolution of power and resources to the local level and give people a stronger voice in how their communities are governed.

Local governments are the foundations of democratic and decentralised governance. They are, in real sense, the governments of the local citizens. As many as 35,221 representatives (mayors, deputy mayors, chairpersons, deputy chairpersons, ward chairpersons, ward members) will be elected from the upcoming polls scheduled for May 13. The UML had topped the winning chart of the local level elections held in 2017, bagging about 45 % seats of the seats allocated for mayor/chairperson, deputy mayor/vice-chairperson, ward chairperson, ward members, women ward members and Dalit women ward members. It remains to be seen how the UML will perform in this election.

It was not be surprising if the five-party ruling coalition continues supporting each other in the upcoming local level election, claiming to safeguard the country and democracy from the anti-change and regressive groups and protect socialism based on democracy and democratic norms and values in Nepal. As compared to the past years, voters’ awareness level about the political performance of their local leaders has definitely gone up which might be costly for them to get elected. It will be interesting to see how the candidates of the major parties perform in the upcoming elections.

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj