S0UL SEARCHING

The Kathmandu Post

15 December 2017

S0UL SEARCHING

All the local, provincial and federal level elections were successfully held in accordance with the new constitution. Voters enthusiastically participated in all the polls regardless of sporadic bomb blasts and attacks on candidates. Vote counting under the First Past The Post (FPTP) system of the provincial and federal elections are over. Total votes cast under the Proportional Representation system will be distributed among the contesting political parties using the ‘Sainte-League’ formula. Under this system, each party’s votes are divided by a sequence of odd numbers until enough quotients are found to allocate all 110 seats of the House (“How PR seats are allocated” Page 2,December 13).

The left alliance comprising the UML and CPN-MC has won the majority seats in both the provincial and federal elections. This indicates that the voters wanted to see a change in the existing political environment. The frequent change of government in the past was a major obstacle for the overall development of the nation and a big concern of the people. Only the leaders of the political parties benefitted from that unstable political environment. Still, it is yet to be seen whether the left alliance of the UML and CPN-MC will remain intact in the days to come and fulfil the promises they made during the election campaign. I would not be surprised if this left alliance breaks up in the coming days considering their past political activities.

Nepali Congress (NC) was the big loser in the recent elections. Voters seemed to be less optimistic about its future political performance based on its past political blunders. The impeachment motion against the then Supreme Court Chief Justice, political interference in the appointment of Inspector General of Police and jumbo cabinet of 64 ministers undermining the elements of New Constitution were some issues with the Deuba led government. The intra-party political feud of NC also contributed to its weak performance The time has come for NC to seriously contemplate its past weaknesses and political blunders in order to avoid sliding further down the political drain in the days to come (“ Deuba ‘in no mood’ to resign as NC chief” Page 1,December 13).

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj

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