The House of Representatives (HoR) election scheduled for March 5 appears to be one of the most challenging times in the nation’s political system in recent times. Political polarization, trust deficits between party leaders and the government, and a situation of administrative uncertainty have threatened to make the HoR election anything but smooth. Various issues on security, fairness, and preparedness for conducting the election have brought about a situation that has made politicians and citizens suspicious about the March poll. Even Prime Minister Sushila Karki herself appears to be under criticism for her strong attitude towards party bosses, making one wonder whether her administration was capable of dealing with the demands of conducting a free and fair general election. Security is also of serious concern. Reports of stolen weapons and escaped inmates still in the country have created tension about the potential for disturbance before and during the time of the polls. As these weapons and fugitives can be a discouraging factor, the authorities will find it hard to ensure that all voters will visit the polling station. As such, the safety of agents representing political parties and polling officers will be of utmost priority. Any complacency could jeopardize not only the March poll but also the whole democratic process. Against this backdrop, the recent dialogue between the prime minister and the party bosses of Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and Nepali Communist Party assumed even more importance.
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The party chiefs demanded a conducive and safe environment for the polls, indicating their willingness to take part and at the same time asking for adequate guarantees for the election process from the government. Such a demand not only reveals their hesitation but also indicates their recognition of the aggressive stance of the prime minister in recent past months. Meanwhile, by reaching out to the leaders for help, Karki seems to have transformed her aggressive front into a cooperative approach in order to make the polls a success. The purpose of Saturday’s meeting was to clarify some positions that had become ambiguous over the past few weeks. Deuba reiterated the priority of his party has changed from regaining parliament to holding an election, while Dahal was adamant about the polls being carried out on time without any delays. Oli underlined the imperative need for a secure atmosphere, stating that without collective efforts and mutual understanding there is no chance for a successful election. In other words, the nation requires a conducive environment, both in the political landscape and administrative setup to hold and make the upcoming election a success.
The Karki government has several steps to take to ensure the March 5 election becomes a resounding success for everyone involved. The first step is to ensure that the presence of security forces is visible and non-threatening for the safety of voters and candidates. Another is to brief election authorities on how to conduct the voting process effectively. It would also be highly beneficial for the government to remain in constant communication with the party leaders to ensure that even a small dispute does not snowball into a much bigger problem. Another step would be to launch public campaigns to instill confidence among the people that their vote is counted and that the election process is thoroughly legitimate. Finally, all concerned must build a trustworthy, conducive climate for the election to make the historic March vote a grand success, ensuring a new parliament and a new government will be set up through a fresh, legitimate mandate from the people.
