More than 24 hours since campaigning kicked off for Nepal’s March 5th election, the Election Commission has flagged a major problem: 37 of 68 parties, including established ones like the Nepali Congress and CPN(UML), have not come out with their manifestos.
“This is not just an act of violating the commission’s directive, but also a blatant violation of the election code of conduct,” Prakash Neupane of the Election Commission was quoted in the Kathmandu Post as saying.
Given that there’s no specific law that penalises political parties for such transgressions, it’s not clear what the Election Commission can do. Nor have either parties or individuals contesting as independents informed the commission about bank accounts they should have opened solely for getting poll funding. Add to that, complaints that the time given for campaigning is not enough.
The election has also thrown up a point visible in Bangladesh, where youth-led protests overthrew the government of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024 but have not been able to translate that into political power. Youth who took part in or led anti-government protests remain outside political parties. For that matter, youth visibility across the established parties is low.
Former prime minister K P Oli, despite being swept out by the tidal wave of public anger in 2024, was able to ensure he stayed at the top of his CPN(UML). Prachanda of the CPN (Maoist) also remains in charge. Important to note the return of the King: former royal Gyanendra Shah well into his 70s is the visible face of the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party.
But Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress was forced to bow to younger leader Gagan Thapa who now leads the campaign. Elsewhere, Rabi Lamichhane, president of the Rashtriya Swatantra party, has teamed up with Balen Shah, former Kathmandu mayor, and both are a draw on the campaign trail.
Not to forget GenZ activist Sudan Gurung who led student activists during the mass uprising.
There are concerns about law and order more so in the Madhes province, where 58% of 2,160 polling stations are classified as highly sensitive.
