KATHMANDU, Sept 3: A group of prominent civil society leaders have urged political party leaders to select candidates who are honest, trustworthy and able to face challenges, for the upcoming parliamentary and provincial assembly polls.

Issuing a joint appeal in the wake of all parties gearing up preparations to nominate party’s candidates for the parliamentary and provincial assembly elections scheduled for November 20, the prominent civil society leaders said that selection of election candidates, who are capable, efficient and have expertise necessary to represent their voters, is a must to make the functioning of parliament effective. They have urged the political parties to make sure that no tainted figures are nominated as their candidates for the polls to save the integrity of parliament.

The appeal of prominent civil society leaders comes at a time when there are growing concerns that top leadership of political parties often choose candidates based on their loyalty to them rather than personal integrity, capability and expertise of candidates. Local level committees of all major political parties have started sending nominations of their candidates for the upcoming polls to the central committee. A few days ago, Nepali Congress (NC) local committee had recommended Aftab Alam, who is facing trial for allegedly burning people alive in a brick kiln, as the party’s candidate for the parliamentary election from Rautahat-2.

Those issuing the appeal include Kedar Bhakta Mathema, Binoj Sijapati, Daman Nath Dhungana, Bhoj Raj Pokharel, Mohna Ansari, Rameshwor Prasad Khanal and Dr Rita Thapa.  Birendra Prasad Mishra, Rita Thapa, Dr Sanduk Ruit and Stella Tamang are also among those issuing the appeal.

The civil society leaders have expressed concern over the growing tendency of the party’s top leadership to pick election candidates based on the vested political interests to consolidate their hold in the party. They have maintained that the tendency of political leaders in power to rule the country to meet the interest of their own or their coterie has created disappointment and frustration among people in the country.

While stating that people are increasingly getting disappointed against the political system itself due to such tendency of leaders, they have urged political parties to take note of such a situation and take necessary initiatives to take the country’s politics in the right direction through the upcoming elections. 

 
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