Anupa Sharma
United states

Under the situation of intense internal conflict and opposition of mainstream political parties representing more than 95% of Nepalese populace, it is no more than a mockery of democracy to insist on the so-called municipal elections slated for early next month by the autocratic regime in Nepal. A total of 3,650 candidates have filed registrations in only about 1,000 of the total 4,146 electoral posts supposedly at stake in 58 municipalities across the country. More than 500 candidates have already withdrawn from their candidacy from the election fray. These figures are clearly an indication of total failure of the elections forcefully imposed without peoples’ will.

There is more to what we see from the figures.

Firstly, most candidates who filed their nominations are government sponsored and represent the small faction of Ratriya Prajatantra Party, which is unconditionally loyal to the King. Fundamentally, they represent the King not the people.

Secondly, Kamal Thapa, currently the king’s minister nominated to look after the department of home affairs, who has all the machinery at his disposal to manipulate the elections, has managed to get his faction’s men and women as lone and unopposed candidates for many electoral seats, by discouraging other candidates to file their nominations, wherever situations could be created for unanimous election of his candidates. In addition, there are also reports that many of 500 candidates who have withdrawn from their candidacy now are those who were forced by Kamal Thapa’s group to withdraw their candidacy to make rooms for uncontested election of his chosen candidates. Even if these elections are to happen in whatever crooked way no matter what, the elected candidates will be no different from the officials of municipalities who are nominated by the autocratic government without peoples’ will. There is no logic for the King, Kamal Thapa and Election Commission to spend scarce tax payers’ money of economically pitiable country to simply choose their own loyal men and women to post them in municipalities. They could simply nominate them handing the appointment letters for the respective positions as long as the current direct rule can last.

Moreover, the candidates who filed their nominations are now under close vigil from the government on the pretext of providing them security, in a deliberate attempt ensuring to keep them on government fold. All these cannot be acceptable in any democratic elections.

Therefore, the ongoing whole episode of farcical election drama must be stopped by the people who are being double-duped, firstly by fake elections and secondly by misappropriation of their taxes in them.