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By Narayan Prasad Mishra

A nation does not decline merely because of a lack of talent, ideas, or resources. Decline begins when citizens—especially leaders and society’s prominent figures—start prioritizing personal gain and ambition over national interest. A political system collapses when people prioritize their own comfort, privilege, position, and prestige over responsibility, and when they seek rewards rather than addressing problems. The usefulness and dignity of democracy do not depend on the number of political parties, but on the honesty, discipline, and unity of their leaders. It is easy to form or split parties, but nation-building requires knowledge, wisdom, selfless service, hard work, and perseverance.

History shows that excessive fragmentation weakens even the most civilized, strong, and resilient societies. When everyone wants to become a leader, systems shatter. When political ideology and action become tools for personal benefit, institutions hollow out from within. When the desire for power surpasses the desire to serve, nations drift toward decline. This is not merely a saying—it is the real picture observed in many emerging countries. Today, that picture is clearly visible in our own nation.

New political parties promise reform, accountability, and a new political culture. Thus, when new parties emerge to challenge corruption, misgovernance, and the failures of the status quo, a ray of hope appears. These parties—whether democratic, communist, monarchist, regional, or district-based—enter politics with noble intentions. But when they soon split into factions with the same ideology, the initial energy dissolves into personal ambition. They then become nominal and functionless. This is the condition of many parties in our country today.

This phenomenon mirrors Nepal’s NGO culture. At one time, more than 200 NGOs and INGOs were established and operated with the sole purpose of cleaning the Bagmati River. How many exist today is unknown. However, we are all aware that our rivers continue to be polluted with garbage, foul odors, and pollution. This clearly shows that simply increasing the number of institutions does not bring solutions, primarily when many of them exist for the interests of individuals or small groups seeking prestige, money, or influence. The ever-growing number of political parties in our country reflects a similar situation.

According to published reports, as of December 1, 2025, Nepal has 143 registered political parties, including democratic, communist, monarchist, and other groups. Although many of them profess similar slogans and principles, they remain divided into numerous factions and splinter groups with different names. This is neither a necessity nor a desire grounded in national or public interest. What is visible here is nothing more than the ambition of certain individuals or groups to secure positions and prestige—even to the extent of wanting their names listed as party leaders. Every split drains national energy, fragments votes, and deepens instability. This is not a sign of democratic growth; it is unmistakably a sign of democratic decay.

Compare this with the United States, a country around fifty times larger than Nepal. Yet, it has only two major national parties competing for governance: the Democratic and the Republican parties. There are a few minor parties, but they hold no real existence or influence. Stability and prosperity arise not from having many parties, but from unity, clarity, and institutional discipline.

The uncontrolled growth of parties in our country reveals a simple truth: there are many leaders, but little leadership. The nation is not suffering because it lacks political voices, but because those voices cannot unite around the essential purpose of national prosperity and development.

To speak the truth, Nepal needs fewer political parties for its development and progress. But the parties must be capable and strong. Their leaders must rise above personal interests, prioritizing national development and public welfare. Their followers must be driven by honesty, pure, and selfless intentions for national upliftment—not by hooliganism or violence. Without this kind of transformation, the daily fragmentation and growth of self-serving parties will push the country deeper into decline. It will further erode our hope of gaining any fruits from democracy. This is exactly what is happening in Nepal today. This requires attention. But—who is there to pay attention?

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