CONFUSED VOTERS

The Kathmandu Post

10 November 2017

CONFUSED VOTERS

The country will enter into the federal structure soon after the completion of upcoming federal and provincial elections scheduled for November 26 and December 7. Successful elections will ensure also the implementation of our new constitution. According to the Election Commission (EC), all the necessary preparations are over for holding the polls. All the candidates vying for the elections are busy with their election campaigns to lure voters with their ambitious political manifestos.

However, people seem confused about some issues related to powers, functions and duties of the central government and provincial governments (“Voters ‘unaware’ of duties of centre and state govts” November 9, Page 1). The political parties have added more to the confusions with their political agendas being almost the same for both the federal and provincial polls. In fact, the Constitution has categorised powers and responsibilities of all the three layers of government-central, provincial and local. The political parties and their candidates have not been educating the voters on the differences of the provincial and federal parliaments and governments. Likewise, they have not been able to make clear their agendas for these systems of governance.

There are 35 authorities of the federal government, and 21 duties and functions of the provincial governments explicitly listed in the constitution. Likewise, 25 concurrent powers are shared between the central government and provincial governments and 15 concurrent powers are shared among the local, provincial and federal governments. Looking closely at the ongoing political environment, it seems that the major political parties themselves are confused. They do not seem to have done enough home work to learn about the functions, duties, powers and governance system of the federal structure. This will ultimately affect the smooth functioning of the provinces.

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharjgunj