Economic prosperity, constitution amendment and implementation and countering a “communist alliance” of the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) are set to be the major focus of the Nepali Congress (NC)’s poll manifesto.  

The document, which is in the final stage of drafting, according to party leaders, while aims to lay out the party’s plan to put the country on the path to prosperity, it will also try to portray the formation of the left alliance as an attempt “to impose an authoritarian regime” in the country.  “Prosperity, constitution implementation and countering the left alliance will be our major poll agendas,” said senior NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi. “NC will continue to fight to protect the democratic values and principles,” he added. The draft manifesto, prepared by a Mahesh Acharya-led committee, has already been shared among top leaders of the party to solicit their views. 

Making implementation of the constitution the party’s major responsibility, the NC is trying to project itself as the force that led the entire constitution promulgation process.

“A democratic constitution was promulgated under the NC’s leadership which is a huge achievement in Nepal’s democratic history,” a leader said quoting a part of the manifesto.  The party, according to leaders involved in manifesto drafting, will also highlight the efforts the party would make to amend the constitution in a bid to reach out to Madhesi voters. “In the past also, we tried to amend the constitution. But we failed to secure a two-thirds majority in Parliament. We will make efforts to amend the constitution,” said Nidhi. 

- KAMAL DEV BHATTARAI

The left alliance of the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) says it will go to voters with economic prosperity, national unity and sovereignty, constitution implementation, inclusive development and balanced foreign policy as its poll agenda. 

A taskforce of the left alliance mandated to prepare its election manifesto is likely to finalise the poll document by Thursday. 

According to UML Secretary Pradeep Gyawali, the manifesto will focus on economic prosperity, national unity and sovereignty, effective implementation of constitution, inclusive development and balanced foreign policy. 

“The left alliance has been formed with the motive of safeguarding national sovereignty, territorial integrity and national dignity, and our focus will be on these areas,” the draft of the election manifesto reads. The draft states that the alliance aims to “develop a Nepali model of democracy” through a competitive multi-party democratic leadership mechanism to lead the country wards socialism. 

“Nepal has entered a new era after the promulgation of the constitution. Now time has come for the political leadership to focus on economy to ensure prosperity,” said Gyawali.

The manifesto also talks about scrapping the Nepal-India 1950 Treaty of Friendship. According to Gyawali, the UML has been demanding a revision of the treaty since 1994 and hence the manifesto will focus on the same to bring the treaty in line with the Panchseel Treaty (five principles of peaceful coexistence).

- SANJEEV GIRI