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By Narayan Prasad Mishra

I know, we have many political parties in Nepal, but I had no idea exactly how many there were. So, on July 25, 2024, I searched Google and found that we have 119 political parties registered in the Office of the Election Commission as of 2081/3/12. When we count one president or chairman for each party, 119 leaders are heading these parties. These statistics paint a picture of a large number of political figures in the country. According to the same news, Nepal has seven political parties that have been accorded the status of national party, securing a three percent proportional representation vote. The major political parties in the federal parliament are:

– The Nepali Congress (NC)

– Nepal Communist Party (UML)

– Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Center)

– Rashtriya Swatantra Party

– Rastriya Prajatantra Part

– People’s Socialist Party, Nepal

– Janamat Party

We all know these parties are established to work for the development of the country and the welfare of the people. Their leaders are all esteemed citizens aspiring to contribute to the nation’s welfare. They do not seek paid positions because we understand that political leaders and party workers do not receive salaries. We should consider them all as volunteers dedicated to the country’s cause. When we count all the chairpersons, presidents, leaders, their workers, and members of these political parties, the number reaches into the millions. It’s a remarkable and inspiring figure if they truly act as volunteers. I wish they were genuine volunteers with an idealistic aim of selflessly serving the country, not merely making empty gestures.

For over three decades, we have witnessed these individuals passionately advocating for the country’s development and the welfare of its people. The way they speak suggests they are aware of our problems and have solutions at hand. They talk passionately about economic reforms, social justice, environmental sustainability, and technological advancements. They emphasize the need for improving education, healthcare, and infrastructure. They also emphasize the importance of combating corruption, nepotism, and favoritism and establishing good governance.

On the other hand, Nepal has received significant economic assistance from our friendly countries in the form of grants or loans. On July 1, 2024, I came across a stirring statement from K.P. Sharma Oli, the then ex-Prime Minister and present Prime Minister and Chairman of the Nepal Communist Party (UML), stating that the country cannot progress under current conditions. He stressed the need to develop industries and job-oriented work, highlighting the potential for job creation through modernizing agriculture. His statement resonated deeply with me, and I admire his speech. We hear similar speeches almost daily from various leaders.

Among these 119 parties, some have been part of the government, including the Nepali Congress, Nepal Communist Party (UML), Nepal Communist Party (Maoists), Rashtriya Swatantra Party, Rashtriya Prajatantra Party, Nepal Communist Party (United Socialist), Nepal Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist), Rashtriya Jana Morcha, and Janata Samajbadi Party. The major parties – Nepali Congress, Nepal Communist Party (UML), Nepal Communist Party (Maoists), Nepal Communist Party (United Socialists), and Rastriya Prajatantra Party – have had leaders who held the position of Prime Minister at different times. Presently, the Nepal Communist Party (UML), the Nepali Congress Party, and the Loktantrik Samajwadi Party are in government. It seems that the parties mentioned above are the leading players in our political game and in forming the government. These parties seem to dominate Nepal’s political landscape and form governments. If they had honestly acted upon their rhetoric, the country would undoubtedly be as developed as other nations worldwide, and the lives of our people would be significantly better, with all the basic necessities they require.

We observe that our parties, whether major players in the political arena or numerous others primarily in name, are perceived as advocates of what needs to be done. None of them are seen as practitioners, individuals who deliver tangible results for the country’s development and people’s welfare. I regret to say that most of them are self-centered and work for their own benefit, their followers, groups, relatives, and friends. Leaders entrusted with the responsibility to steer the country toward prosperity and well-being frequently resort to rhetoric. However, the gap emerges when these promises remain primarily unfulfilled or inadequately executed. One of the primary consequences of this rhetoric-practice gap is a loss of public trust and confidence. When citizens repeatedly hear promises of development and improvement, only to witness minimal or no real change in their daily lives, scepticism and disillusionment ensue. We see precisely the same situation in our country. We see development only in speeches. We see good governance only in speeches. We see the welfare of the people only in programs. We see equality and justice only in the constitution and laws. We see the promises of zero tolerance of corruption only in words. In reality, we see all of them, or most of them, love corruption. That is their main dish and favorite food.  Most people feel corruption is their standard program. That is why numerous corruption scandals originated, like the fake Bhutanese refugee scandals or the gold smuggling scandals connected with most parties in the government. People often are helpless when their problems regarding equality and justice stand in front of them. We all must voice that this situation must end.

Leaders must prioritize translating rhetoric into actionable plans with measurable outcomes. Funds allocated for development projects must be utilized efficiently without corruption, bureaucratic hurdles, or political stalemates. The administration, whether in police, army, or civil, must move automatically based on the constitution and laws of the land without the influence or pressure of anyone. There should not be a way of Bhansun or Chakadi (sycophancy). Citizens have a role in holding leaders accountable for their promises and advocating for policies that genuinely address societal needs. For this, we must have independent civil society organizations, media, and academic institutions to scrutinize government actions and promote informed public discourse, not the party puppet civil society organization that dances according to the music and tunes of the master parties. We need to educate the people to believe and remember the leaders, not for what they said but for what they accomplished. We must discard the parties and leaders who are preachers but not practitioners.

narayanshanti70@gmail.com

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect People’s Review’s editorial stance.