The ruling Nepali Congress unveiled its election manifesto on Tuesday coming down heavily against the main opposition CPN-UML for propping up extremism, intolerance and aggression in national politics.

Unveiling the 52-page roadmap at the party central office in Sanepa, Lalitpur, on Tuesday, Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba said the NC was in favour of a strong local level to strengthen democracy at the grassroots.

Stating that talks were on to create environment conducive to bring all parties on board, Deuba said: “The local elections would ensure the operation of the rights from the local levels.”

The NC’s manifesto was prepared by a committee led by leader Mahesh Acharya based on the policy and programmes of 22 rights that the constitution has guaranteed to the local level.

The largest party in Parliament, however, has spared as much space in the manifesto digging at rival parties as for its plans, policies and programme to address country needs to continually attain high economic growth.

Under the subtitle, ‘Political and Next Political Agenda’, the NC manifesto has accused the UML for instigating politics of intolerance since it started leading the new government in October 2015, nixed several appointments made by the previous government, mobilised state coffers and instruments for party’s benefit, leading to the collapse of its government after a ruling alliance withdrew support.

Since the promulgation of the new constitution, the Congress said, “the UML has never helped in the government formation but always looked for opportunity and political power-sharing instead.” The NC also concluded that instead of helping in resolving disputes over the constitution, the UML created an extremist political environment that brewed agitation in the Tarai.

Labelling the UML as “conservative” force, the NC manifesto says that the KP Oli-led party did not help much in the constitution making process. “It was the NC which brought the UML and the Maoists together before the promulgation of the new constitution.”

“The UML is hell bent on creating a rift between communities in the Hills and the Tarai, while comparing their nationalities in different ways inflicting a huge damage on national unity, social harmony, constitution implementation and democratic exercise,” the document reads.

The NC did not spare its coalition partner CPN (Maoist Centre) either, saying that it had failed to maintain a strong political will and democratic way and had not yet come out of the ‘people’s war’ mentality.  The NC election document says the Maoist Centre has always looked for opportunities in government, allowing political instability to fester in the country.

On the Madhes-based political parties, the NC has said they are “indulged in vicious circle and adamancy”.

“They have dragged Madhesi people into agitation and harm’s way,” the NC documents says, calling on the Madhes-centric forces to come out of the vicious cycle of political adamancy and resolve the political standoff through the constitution amendment. In the document, the NC has also urged the Rastriya Prajatantra Party to get over its “never-ending political hunger and Panchayati mentality” and support the constitution.