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Institute of Foreign Affairs, a government think-tank under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organized a discussion on ‘democracy and election: neighborhood experience.’ The discussion held on May 9 was attended by experts and journalists. 

In the beginning, Matrika Poudyal, spokesperson at IFA, presented the objectives and importance of the program. 

Elaborating on the status of elections and democracy in South Asian countries, Poudyal said sharing of ideas and opinions to make the election system more responsible and democratic has become a prominent topic.

Rajendra Pandey, acting executive director of IFA, shared his knowledge of various aspects of democracy and elections including international experiences. Pandey said IFA as a policy institute has continuously been organizing discussions on policy issues. 

Experts and journalists discussed electoral governance, the situation of democracy in South Asian countries, and other various aspects of election and democracy. Speaking at the program, journalist Kamal Dev Bhattarai stressed strengthening institutions to ensure free and fair elections, the cornerstone of democracy. 

He presented a comparative study of electoral governance in South Asian countries. Along with vibrant state institutions, strong media and civil society institutions can play a vital role to maintain the integrity of elections, he said.

Journalist Chandra Shekhar Adhikari said to ensure a vibrant democracy, countries of this region should take measures for electoral reform. Adhikari was of the view that political influence on the functioning of the EC is posing a threat to free elections. 

Journalist Ritu Raj Subdei said that political parties are using money to influence the voting pattern. The first step towards free and fair elections is reform in the political parties, he said. Journalist Salik Subedi highlighted the key factors that contribute to strengthening democracy. He further talked about the close interlink between election and democracy. 

Political scientist Chandra Dev Bhatt highlighted the various facets of democracy and election. He said that only holding regular elections does not guarantee a deep-rooted democracy. Journalist Jagdishwar Pandey stressed creating vibrant institutions in order to embolden democracy. We have to guarantee the autonomy of institutions that are mandated for holding the elections which are not happening, he said. 

People residing temporarily in Kathmandu Valley due to various reasons are returning home to cast their votes in the May 13 local level elections.

According to Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, the number of people leaving Kathmandu valley has increased of late with most of them going home to exercise one of the greatest democratic rights - the right to vote.

Inflow of people into the valley is lesser than the outflow.

On an average, 10,000 to 15,000 people are leaving the valley on a daily basis lately. The statistics as of last Monday showed that 55,746 passengers travelled outside of the valley in 7,911 vehicles, while 42,544 entered the valley during the same period.

The data does not include passengers travelling in private vehicles and reserved ones, police said.

A total of 17,733,723 voters are enlisted in the Election Commission of Nepal. There are a total of 10,756 polling stations and 21,955 polling booths for the upcoming election.

Security arrangements have been made classifying 2,946 polling stations as highly sensitive, 4,423 as sensitive, and 3,387 as less sensitive, according to the Commission.

The election is going to be held in a single phase and silence hour begins from this midnight.

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) will be operating shuttle bus service on the Election Day for the convenience of tourists. The local level election is taking place on May 13, Friday.

This service is being run in Kathmandu in view of the inconvenience to the air passengers travelling from the airport to the hotel and vice-versa on the day of the election as the government has prohibited the operation of vehicles on the Election Day.

NTB is to operate shuttle bus service on different routes from Tribhuvan International Airport to various hotels and vice-versa with the support of Tourist Police and in coordination with Tourist Bus Association of Nepal and the Nepal Tourist Vehicle Association.

The Route number 1 is from the airport to the Nepal Airlines Corporation Head Office, Hotel Annapurna, Hotel Yak & Yeti, Thamel Square, Lainchaur Square, Shanker Hotel and to the airport.

Route number 2 is from the airport to Hotel Radisson, Hotel Shangri-La, Narayangopal Chowk, Maharajgunj Chowk, Hyatt Hotel, Chabahil and airport.

The Route number 3 is from the airport to Tinkune Chowk, Hotel Everest, Maitighar Chowk, Hotel Himalaya, Hotel Soaltee, Grand Hotel and airport.

The tourists using the shuttle bus service will be charged Rs 300 per person to the bus owner concerned, NTB stated.

Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President has appealed to one and all to actively participate in the May 13 local level elections and vote for Nepali Congress candidates to make them victorious.

In his appeal today, the NC president claimed that citizens had got the opportunity to form local governments on their own following a long struggle for democracy under the NC’s leadership.

He called on eligible voters to exercise their voting rights in the local level elections meant for institutionalising and consolidating the federal democratic republic achieved by years long struggle and dedication. He went on to say that history had made it clear that movements and campaigns be they political, or socio-economic had ended with progressive results and they were carried out under the NC’s leadership and the NC’s decisive role was significant in every political movement’s success.

“The latest political developments in the country are sufficient to say that the protection of the constitution that was promulgated by the Constituent Assembly with the direct people’s participation was ensured under NC leadership when the House was under the frequent siege of a totalitarian ruler who imprudently dissolved it time and again by stepping on the country’s main law.

“The five-party political alliance was forged against the backdrop of such insolent moves. We all are aware of the existing situation that demands its continuation,” he said in the appeal.

Stating that the NC was dedicated to political stability, the NC president said the party had resolved to commercialise and modernise agriculture, promote the tourism sector and hydropower production, and also invest in the productive sector and create jobs within the country. The appeal reads, “The government formed under the leadership of NC for the protection of democracy and the constitution fulfilled its commitment to provide vaccine against COVID-19 to the general people by 13 April 2022.

He shared that the government had become successful in fulfilling the desire of Kathmandu folks by distributing drinking water by 14 May 2022 from the Melamchi Drinking Water Project.

“The NC has proved that it fulfils what it says. It does not just sell dreams to the people for cheap popularity. Balanced foreign policy has increased trust and confidence of the international community.

Doors of additional possibilities of international cooperation and investment have been opened in infrastructure development with the passage of MCC from the Parliament.

Remarkable activities are being carried out to ensure good governance by discouraging corruption,” reads the appeal.

The NC president said, “NC is the heartbeat of the general people.

We do not talk, we believe in hard work.