ITAHARI, July 3: As Nepal prepares for local elections next April, calls for non-partisan local governments are gaining momentum, with many citizens arguing that independent candidates would be more accountable and less influenced by party politics. Others, however, maintain that local elections should remain party-based in line with Nepal's constitutional commitment to a multiparty democratic system.
Many political leaders, students, young people and residents interviewed by Republica in Sunsari said local governments would function more effectively if led by capable individuals rather than candidates backed by political parties.
Pawan Kumar Rauniyar of Koshi Rural Municipality said ordinary citizens often have to seek support from political parties even for routine administrative services, undermining their dignity.
"People should not have to visit party offices for minor tasks. Local governments would work better if they were free from partisan politics because voters are capable of identifying the right candidates," he said.
Rauniyar argued that party affiliation often outweighs competence in local elections.
"Political parties have strong organizational networks, so candidates receive votes regardless of whether they are capable or not," he said, adding that many elected representatives lack innovative ideas for local development and remain more accountable to their parties than to the public.
Ram Prasad Chaulagain, who recently joined the Shram Sanskriti Party after years with the CPN-UML, also acknowledged the growing influence of party politics in local governments.
According to him, elected representatives are expected to serve all citizens after winning elections, but many continue to act along party lines.
"They should rise above party interests after being elected, but in practice many fail to play that shared role," he said.
Chaulagain added that countries such as India, the United States, Japan and Canada hold non-partisan local elections to reduce political polarization, although Nepal has yet to adopt such a system.
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Support for independent candidates has also grown as political parties increasingly face criticism for awarding election tickets based on factional loyalty, financial influence or political muscle rather than merit.
Kobid Jung Karki, vice-president of the Nepali Congress's Sunsari chapter, said party-backed representatives can become authoritarian if they are not held accountable.
"When party decisions no longer carry the same weight even among party members, there is nothing wrong with fielding non-partisan candidates who genuinely represent the people's aspirations," he said.
Ramu Pokharel, a leader of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) in Koshi Province, argued that independent candidates are better positioned to work without political pressure.
"They are free from party directives, giving educated and capable individuals a better chance to serve," he said.
Nabin Kumar Mehta of Inaruwa Municipality-8 said independent candidates often struggle to secure opportunities despite growing public support.
"Where independents have been elected, they have generally performed well. The problem is that they rarely get the opportunity," he said.
Residents also expressed frustration over increasing political polarization at the local level.
Ganga Shrestha of Itahari said independent representatives are more likely to provide public services without discrimination.
"Usually party candidates end up winning, but if an independent candidate wins, people can expect equal treatment when seeking public services," she said.
Street vendor Bindu Adhikari said party-backed representatives have failed to meet public expectations.
"We've seen what party candidates have delivered over the years. Regardless of which party wins, elected representatives often end up following party instructions instead of serving the public," she said.
Padam Karki, who operates an electric three-wheeler in Sunsari, cited the work of independent mayors in Kathmandu, Dharan and Dhangadhi as evidence that independent leadership can deliver better governance.
"Independent representatives can work according to their own judgment. That's why voters should seriously consider them in the next election," he said.
Writer Tika Aatreya also supported independent leadership, saying local governments would be better served by leaders accountable primarily to citizens rather than political parties.
Students interviewed by Republica also voiced dissatisfaction with party-backed representatives.
Aakriti Ojha, a student at Bishwo Adarsha College in Itahari, alleged that elected representatives often prioritize party supporters when allocating development budgets.
"Some representatives cannot even propose development plans for their own communities because they simply follow their party's agenda," she said.
Another student, Seema Basnet, said independent candidates are better positioned to address local problems without political bias.
However, not everyone supports replacing party-based local elections.
Former mayor of Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City and CPN-UML leader Dwarikalal Chaudhary argued that non-partisan local elections would be inconsistent with Nepal's multiparty democratic system.
"It does not make sense to advocate non-partisan local governments when the country itself operates under a party-based democratic system," he said.
Suman Shrestha, president of the Rastriya Swatantra Party's Dharan Municipal Committee, also questioned the proposal, arguing that coordination with provincial and federal governments would become more difficult if local governments were entirely non-partisan.
Nepal's Constitution provides for a multiparty democratic system, making the debate over whether local elections should remain party-based or become non-partisan likely to intensify as the country prepares for next year's local elections.
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