Kathmandu: Nepali Congress (NC) General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has said that Nepal has set an example in the South Asia region for conducting periodic elections. At an interaction organized by the Nepal Voters’ Rights Forum on ‘Integrated Election Bill’, leader Thapa argued that holding a timely election was a reflection of the country’s strong commitment towards democracy.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Thapa stated that the Bill proposed by the Election Commission of Nepal was a well-drafted document, though he acknowledged there was room for improvement. He emphasized the need for parliamentary discussions to consider potential changes and urged all political parties to demonstrate an honest political commitment. Thapa also pressed for population-based representation in the electoral framework.
CPN (UML)’s Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai highlighted the necessity of aligning the election act with other political parties’ acts, reinforcing the need for coherence in legislative frameworks. Additionally, CPN (Maoist Centre)’s central committee member Madhav Sapkota criticized the current electoral system as being too costly, suggesting a fully proportional system to reduce election expenses.
Rastriya Swatantra Party’s Chief Whip Santosh Pariyar called for the inclusion of proportional provisions in the constitution, advocating for a more inclusive electoral process. Similarly, Janamat Party’s Secretary-General Chandan Kumar Singh stressed the importance of prioritizing the inclusive and proportional principles outlined in the constitution.
Furthermore, Janata Samajwadi Party’s General Secretary Ram Kumar Sharma argued for an electoral system that benefits everyone, emphasizing that all Nepalis have contributed equally to the cause of democracy. CPN (Unified Socialist) Vice-Chairperson Jayanti Rai urged for the proposed Bill to be presented in parliament promptly to facilitate timely discussions and decisions.