Gandaki Provincial Assembly Issues Warning to New Government: Acknowledge Public Verdict, Resist Actions Undermining Provincial Authority
News Summary
- In the February 21 elections, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (Raswapa) won 15 seats in Gandaki Province, initiating the ninth session of the Provincial Assembly.
- Leaders from the Nepali Congress, UML, and Maoist parties described the election results as unexpected and committed to thorough internal reflection.
- UML leader Haribahadur Chuman acknowledged shortcomings in practicing democracy properly and highlighted issues such as corruption and weaknesses in administrative restructuring.
March 21, Pokhara – Following the extraordinary public mandate in the February 21 elections, the ninth session of Gandaki Province’s Provincial Assembly commenced on Sunday as the Rastriya Swatantra Party (Raswapa) prepares to form the federal government.
While discussions continue around the federal government formation under Balendra Shah, established parties in Gandaki are conducting their own internal reviews and analyzing the election outcomes.
The Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (UML), both formed after the Jana Andolan movement, are set to be in the incoming government, as are the Maoist party (formerly CPN-Maoist) and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), both with legislative representation in the provincial assembly.
In the elections, Congress secured two seats from Mustang and Manang districts, while UML, Maoist, RPP and other parties won no seats there. An independent candidate, Mahavir Pun, won in Myagdi with support from Raswapa, which won 15 seats by a wide margin.
There has been keen interest in how these parties will assess the current situation in the Provincial Assembly, their views on the new federal government, and their interpretation of the election results.
On the first day of the ninth session held Sunday, leaders from the three major parties shared their perspectives. Leaders of Congress, UML, and Maoist parties accepted the clear message from the electorate and pledged serious self-reflection, though some still find it difficult to fully accept the election outcomes.
They described the results as unexpected and raised various concerns, also warning of strong resistance against any attempts to undermine provincial rights.
Former Chief Minister and UML General Secretary Khagaraj Adhikari expressed objections to the federal government’s criticism of lawmakers’ support for lawmaking in the assembly.
Adhikari stated that the election demonstrated that mere development projects are insufficient, and a more profound review is necessary to understand how such results occurred.
He accused the Supreme Court under former Chief Justice Sushila Karki of initiating disrespect toward the province, a practice purportedly continued by the current government.
“We do not accept a situation where the province is compelled to follow orders and directives blindly. Should such pressure recur, we will strongly protest,” Adhikari remarked.
He also highlighted pride in the achievements of provincial and local governments, emphasizing their significant role during the COVID-19 pandemic challenges.
Adhikari stressed the need to respect the people’s verdict but underscored that attacks on the province will not be tolerated, while also voicing concerns about the nation’s survival.
Congress leader Mahendra Dhwaj Jisi stated that the party is ready to correct its mistakes and that programs from the Jana Andolan movement through the elections were implemented as planned.
“When a nation itself is fragile, where is the scope for reform? We are neither despondent nor overly enthusiastic. It seems we must look back and resolve to amend our errors,” Jisi asserted.
He compared the events to the September 24 incident, calling it a prelude to the February 21 election, which in turn is a repeat of that prelude, adding, “Now it is time to watch the full movie unfold.”
CPN (UML) leader Haribahadur Chuman conducted a serious review of the weaknesses within the old parties and his own. He acknowledged that all parties faced tests from the people’s demands, with the older parties being rejected.
Chuman said, “We cannot blame others; the problem lies within us. We have failed to practice democracy properly.”
He noted that populism is a product of democracy itself and called for acknowledging each party’s role in its rise. He admitted that work at the federal, provincial, and local levels has been weak and has failed to meet public expectations.
He pointed out the increase in corruption and inefficiency in administrative restructuring. He warned that problems in administration may intensify due to issues with the personnel system.