About 5 years ago the late Ujjwal Thapa, the founder of the Viveksheel Nepali Dal, used to discuss how the interests of some leaders are being prioritized over the party’s principles and ideas in Nepali politics.
Can the commercialization that has appeared in politics be reduced by having an American-style primary election? Is it possible to create a platform for the patriotic good people engaged in trade and business to stand before the election? There was a lot of discussion on such questions.
This article explains the primary process of institutionalizing the candidate selection process through primaries among political parties and independents in the upcoming federal elections.
background
Now the political parties and their leaders are chanting the mantra of ‘Apna kam banta to bhadme jaye Janata’. Due to this trend, party leaders and workers divided into factions and factions from the center to the village are fighting for their respective interests. Such selfish fighting in elections comes to the fore naked, flouting democratic values and norms. The war of nepotism and nepotism, the war of factions, the war of money finally unites, and the battle of value and recognition is lost.
Honest, honest, capable and capable young leaders who consider the ideas of the party and the country as their guide and the interests of the party leaders are always in the minority within the party and are deprived of leadership.
The will of the common workers and common members of the party is transparent leadership selection with democratic values and beliefs. But his voice has always been unheard. The doors of such voices are closed in the party. As a result, evil tendencies such as nepotism, nepotism, fraud, fraud, fraud, inducement and financial manipulation have become institutionalized in the party.
The alternative is to institutionalize the system of electing leaders directly by the people. Be it the leadership of a party or a country, open competition is a democratic method. The selection of the candidate should be through open competition. If voters follow the process of direct interaction between the public and the candidate in the election, and through debate, the democratic conduct, leadership, efficiency and other aspects of the candidate are informed, then there is no doubt that the country’s will be led. by a good person.
In the recent local elections, the people led Balen Sah, Harak Sampang, Gopal Hamal and other independent candidates to victory in different parts of the country. People did not like the controversial candidate preferred by the top leaders of the party. The candidates who were not liked by the party were elected by the people. Thus, it was found that voters preferred educated, honest and social campaigners with good manners, clear vision and working ability over party candidates.
Understanding this sentiment of voters, now there is a need to focus on making the candidate selection process democratic and transparent in the upcoming general elections.
What is Nepal Change Maker League doing?
In a recently published article titled ‘Costly Elections and Poor Leadership’, we have mentioned that elections are extremely costly and undemocratic due to mala fide manipulation of money. There is talk of a way out of that vicious circle where the leadership of the country goes to the rich instead of the people and the country and the people always suffer. The concept of ‘Primary’ has been introduced in the process of selection of competent candidates.
Some old party leaders, independent parties and activists as well as the mass media have started talking about how to fix the bad leadership born out of costly elections. Also, as an alternative the best solution is to realize the need of primary and start raising your voice. To institutionalize this process, now Nepal Change Maker League has started gathering conscious Nepalis who hold independent or party ideology and follow the democratic principles of honesty, cleanliness, tolerance and coexistence, diversity, inclusivity and transparency. accept to.
Recently, the candidates and experts who announced their candidature from Kathmandu, Dharan, Dadeldhura, Lalitpur, Bhairahawa discussed the concept of ‘primary’ of the league’s primary election at an event organized by Geopark in Bagbazar. For the first time in Nepal, the issue has been formally taken forward through a single forum. It is believed that this beginning will prove to be a milestone in the selection of leadership along with political change in the coming days.
This process can be used by each political party within its own party. Independent candidates from outside the party can use it among candidates. By creating a transparent, reliable and easy-to-use model, all stakeholders can use it to select the right and capable candidates in the upcoming elections. People can also feel the right leadership.
Elementary processes and systems
One. first step
- As per the criteria of the candidate selection process, in the first phase, those who want to run for election must have faith, belief and respect for the Constitution of Nepal, as well as accept the democratic values of integrity, cleanliness. Tolerance and coexistence, diversity, inclusivity and transparency and commit ourselves to it.
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An ethics committee will then examine the candidates’ backgrounds and determine whether they are eligible. Candidates who are involved in chaotic activities contrary to the constitution, have a corrupt and criminal image, do not believe in democracy and do not accept the minimum democratic values and recognition as mentioned above will be disqualified for candidature in the first phase.
b. second step
- Candidates will be evaluated by general voters along with neutral subject experts demonstrating their ability in various staged debates to assess the candidate’s integrity, knowledge, leadership skills and initial public support in contemporary topics and fields .
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Some points will be given to measure the interaction and evaluation with nationally and internationally renowned trusted elders. There will be at least 3 public debates between candidates in their constituencies. Subject knowledge, leadership and performance of the candidates in public debates will be assessed by experts in the following disciplines.
C. Candidate Assessment Subject
- Standing on real ground, a clear idea and plan about how to strengthen the country’s economy permanently by guaranteeing the basic needs of the people such as accessible and quality education, health, grass, housing, cotton, and necessary policies Should be Strategies, laws and implementation. Must have the ability to do it.
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Ability to identify problems in the country and their constituencies and come up with solutions.
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Having the ability and confidence to represent one’s country proudly at national and international fora and speak one’s mind on issues of national importance.
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Having the ability to regularly update the national and international world situation, analyze it and draw the attention of the agencies concerned.
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Be able to give a clear opinion and plan regarding the upliftment and development of women, dalits, tribals and marginalized communities with regard to youth manpower and employment.
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Having determination and will to build a corruption free legal state.
D. candidate selection
- After each debate, a general voter support survey will be conducted. The priority list of the winning chances of the candidates will be published on the basis of opinion polls and evaluation of experts.
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Based on this, the best candidate among the candidates involved in this process will be declared as the general candidate.
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If there is no consensus, the best candidate will be selected by conducting a primary election. Participating in this process, the first one in the primary list will be supported by all the other candidates in that list.
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Enlightened persons involved in this process will also publicly support the first person on the list, which will increase his chances of winning and strengthen and widen the base of democracy.
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The candidates so selected shall compete with other parties or other candidates not involved in the process.
An innovative political tool for candidates to participate in elections through a candidate selection process by the League with the help and cooperation of various organizations; issue setting, campaign design, data analysis, resource management; Media/Social Media Management, Legal Consulting; Celebrity endorsement and common collaboration and recognition with other candidates; Fundraising, account management practices and transparency; Makes every effort to create a conducive environment for the candidate and his/her team in matters of capacity building.
Is this possible?
End of Jahanian dynasty was possible in Nepal, end of monarchy was possible and we changed it and established democracy. The league has not talked about changing the system, but if it wants to take a normal course, it is not impossible. Each person needs help from their respective fields to refine and identify this method. Ultimately this benefits the common citizen and the democratic system.
Voters, candidates and parties are all necessary to establish fair competition in a democracy, but still requires practice. The candidate selection model can be exercised internally or externally by a network of parties and independents. In other words, if the political sphere agrees, the scientific and universal method of candidate selection may be applicable. The Nepal Change Maker League will do its best to create an environment for the practice of clean elections by lobbying for the cause by involving everyone’s participation.
(Simon Dhungana has MS from John Hopkins University, Dr. Sudip Shrestha is a post doctorate from Harvard University and Govind Narayan has an MA from JNU. The author is an associate of Nepal Change Maker League.)