By Narayan Prasad Mishra There are many reasons for calling democracy the best form of governance system. Among them, the main one is an election. In fact, the election is the heart of democracy. People's most important right and duty are to participate in the election. The election is the one around which democracy moves. That is where people's opinions and choices are expressed and exercised. They select and elect their candidates to govern themselves, hoping for noble work from them for the country's development and the people's welfare. For this reason, it is always said that the election should be free and fair, without any influence of power, money, threat, or relation. All should have equal opportunity to participate in it - in the platforms, political debates, public dialogues, radio, and television. At the same time, there must be credible electoral management and administration, an effective electoral process, and well-informed, active citizens who could use their conscience to elect the best honest candidates and parties. These nice essential things are all said and written. But in most countries of the world, we see and experience that the leaders and followers of democratic parties who talk about the glory of democracy, democratic cultures, and free and fair elections are indulged in undemocratic tricks and activities to win the election by any means. Even the USA, the country called the most democratic in the world, can not be called different and separate from this culture. On January 6, 2021, following then U.S. President Donald Trump's defeat in the 2020 presidential election, a mob of his supporter's violent attack on the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., to overturn the result is a new example in today's world. What to talk about and write more about the undemocratic culture of our country or the countries around us - India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh? We have a Nepal proverb - Uhi Dyangko Mula (The radish of the same spot). It means their taste and elements are not different from others. From this point, one can easily understand how the election would be in communist countries where one can hardly see and experience the freedom of speech, writing, or civil liberties. However things may be, the election is undoubtedly an opportunity of choice. The time of this choice in Nepal is coming soon. Our general election is going to be held on November 20. After the last election, the people have seen and experienced five years. We have a Nepali proverb, "Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches" (Jutta Launelai Martra Thaha Hunchha, Kaha Juttale Ghochchha). We all know where corruption, nepotism, malpractices, and irregularities exist. We know who are the causes of our pain and suffering. We all know the mismanagement of the administration and country. We all know which parties or the people were in the government and power and who was responsible for the downfall of this country. Now we have a choice to throw them out in the garbage container. We have a choice to elect honest, active, dedicated to service, and loyal to the nation and people. The four political parties in the government (Nepali Congress, Communist Party Nepal -Maoist Center, Communist Party Nepal (Unified Socialist), Jana Morcha, along with Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (Losapa) are united with alliances to contest the coming general election. Their main aim seems to control the state's power without any moral principles of the existence of various political parties with different doctrines. Not only the alliances between these parties, but we also see the unholy and dishonest alliances and understanding for the coming election between many other political parties, including Nepal Communist Party (UML), Rashtriya Prajatantra Party, Janata Samajbadi Party (Jasapa), Nepal Samajbadi Party (Nesapa), etc. The alliances and understanding between Rashtriya Prajatantra Party and Nepal Communist Party (UML), two parties, one pro-kingship, and the other just opposite, means anti-kingship, seem almost unbelievable.  More than that, the happy unity between Pushpa Kamal Dahal, chairman of CPN - Maoist Center, and Baburam Bhattarai, chairman of Nepal Samajbadi Party, seems to be crossing the boundary of unprincipled and dishonesty in politics which is unbelievable. It is known that Bhattarai, the Ex-Prime Minister, once levelled billions of rupees on serious corruption charges against Ex-Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda. At that time, he expressed that was why he left the Maoist party and separated from Prachanda and his party. He even established a new party. Now the same Baburam Bhattarai accompanied Prachanda when he went to Gorkha to file a nomination for the coming house of the representative election and expressed that he was delighted to be with him and hand over the responsibility of the constituency he represented. He boasted about his relationship with Dahal and said they had blessings from their living father and late father. This may be beneficial for him to be the Prime Minister again, to have a new position as President, or to get valuable support for his daughter Manushi. But I could not believe it and could not chew it because of his two contradictory versions. People say this looks like a Nepali proverb -- Machha Aaye Bhitra Hat, Shap Aaye Bahira Hat (You put the hand in when you see the fish; you take the hand out when you see the snake). It is unsuitable for his wisdom, experience, and dignity. He is not only our Ex-Prime Minister but also a well-read and learned man. However, he recently said he took back his charge, and the charge is nonexistent from his side now. I doubt his long speech levelled with a charge of Rs 9 billion against Dahal, and his activities against Dahal during this long period will easily be erased from people's minds soon. It may not be unwise to say that one who wants to be in people's hearts should give up the things that weigh him down. That is why the great people say -- always control your tongue; think ten times about what is right or wrong before you speak. Once you speak, you cannot make it unspoken easily.  Under this dishonest alliance arrangement, the communists need to vote for the democrats, and the democrats need to vote for the communists. The royalists need to vote for the communists, anti-Kingship, and the communists need to vote for the royalists, pro-Kingship. In these circumstances, we are bound to see them as Bhagabada Parties, not as political parties. The Nepali word - Bhagababda means to divide and share the loss and profits, property or earnings, etc. They are united with that purpose to earn the provincial and parliamentary seats and share among themselves and enjoy the state power. In this context, they are not concerned with political doctrine or philosophy. Their prime interest is grabbing the state power. We cannot see even a ray of principle and honesty in them. They are clearly seen as dishonest to their party philosophy. They can do anything to fulfill their selfish motive to grab power and position.  However, they again are trying to trap the people in a slogan of the mystery words of regressive (Pratigamankari) and progressive (Agragamankari), as earlier. At the same time, they are presenting themselves as progressives and depicting all others as regressive. As the people have been hearing these two words from the political leaders without any meaning in practice, it has not been seen so far that people are attracted to these words of mystery which do not talk about good governance, the country's development, and the people's welfare. In this situation, if people vote according to those parties' guidance and directions, they themselves will undoubtedly be the most dishonest and foolish. If the people again obey the corrupt, dishonest politicians and their slavish followers, Nepal will not be a place to live for honest people. We have a choice to select between honest and dishonest, and we have a choice to select between corrupt and pure. We have a choice to select patriot or anti-national. We and our voting exercise have the power to select between good and evil. So use your voting rights with a pure conscience. You are bound to suffer again if you are not honest in your voting. Be honest and be a proud citizen of the country. Do not be a man or woman of repentance. Do not be people of slave mentality. May all of us evaluate ourselves and think how much we voters were responsible for voting to elect dishonest people and parties and ruin our country, putting them in power. I hope our country will not be another example of mockery of the free and fair exercise of voting power in the world by electing selfish and corrupt candidates again. We have already shown an accurate picture of our disfigured democracy by making one notorious candidate unopposed victorious for the Provincial Assembly member in Manang. That must be a matter of shame for all the parties, especially for the prime parties and leaders, who had no courage, even to present the candidate there. narayanshanti70@gmail.com