Nepal wants to hold local elections in May. Here is why it can be quite a challenge

On 20 February 2017, the Government of Nepal decided to hold local elections on 14 May throughout the country in a single phase. For this, it released 102,900 crore rupees to the Election Commission (EC) to make all necessary preparations.

If at all this local poll is held in Nepal, it will be happening after the gap of 20 long years and this will be a great achievement in the implementation of the present Constitution. The last local-level election was organised in the country in 1997.

However, it is widely feared if at all the local-level elections will be peaceful. Since the day the government announced the date, Madhesh-based political parties started opposing this move, calling it "unfortunate".

Such parties have been demanding a due seat-share in local bodies in proportion to their population. Of the total 719 local units proposed by Local Body Restructuring Commission (LBRC), the Madhesh region has been given far fewer units than what was expected.

Considering the fact that the region accommodates 51% of the country's total population of the country, they want no less than half of the total units in this region. If they compromise with the government on this issue, that is likely to affect their presence not only in the elections of the National Assembly, the Upper House of the parliament but also in the elections of the President and Vice-President of the country.

Conspiracy theory

But more than this the Madhesh-based political parties have sensed a conspiracy in the decision to hold local elections. They maintain that the local level elections are under the jurisdiction of the provincial government and not of the central government.

As of yet, the issue of demarcation of provincial boundaries has not been resolved and the Bill for the amendment of the Constitution is still lying pending in the parliament. Intentions of the government are doubtful as some of these core issues are still on hold. So, they want the government to complete the Constitution amendment first before announcing the poll date for the local level elections.

All major Madhesh-based political parties have vowed to boycott the elections until the Constitution is amended to their satisfaction.

In a mark of protest against the decision to hold local-level elections, the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) leaders organised a torch rally at major thoroughfares and marketplaces in different Madhesh districts on 21 February. They also enforced a Madhesh shutdown on 22 February. Besides, they have been organising ‘exposure campaigns’ for 15 days beginning from 23 February.

Expectations are that the local-body elections will meet the same fate as it did in February 2006 when King Gyanendra tried to hold municipal polls against the will of the public. Major political parties at that time had boycotted the polls as well.

Picking sides

But this time the situation is not like what it was in 2006. The country is badly polarised today. So the elections could somehow be conducted in the hills where the positions of non-Madheshi political parties are strong. But then it might be difficult to conduct the elections in Madhesh.

Chances are high that violence may erupt if the government imposes election in the Madhesh region by force. Also, the possibility of violence is high in such hill and mountain regions where the Janajati (indigenous) groups have a stronghold as they are also opposed to this elections.

Both the Madhesh political parties and the hill-based Janajati groups have formed the Federal Alliance against the discriminatory clauses in the Constitution.

Over and above, there is also a time constraint in conducting local elections. Time is too short for preparatory tasks like deployment of election officials, mobilising staff at polling stations, printing of nearly 16,000 types of ballot papers and transporting the papers and other materials to the destinations. This poses a massive challenge to the EC.

The government had given 109 days in advance to the EC to conduct 2008 Constituent Assembly (CA) polls and 100 days for 2013 CA polls. But this time only 83 days has been given to EC.

However, in certain quarters people are still hopeful that the elections of the local bodies could still be conducted despite the difficulties. Ela Sharma, Election Commissioner recently stated, “Obviously, it’s challenging but we have accepted it. We are prepared and make it possible because the prime minister has assured us that he will provide all possible support to make it a success.”

Though the election of the local bodies is due, it will be disastrous to impose it on the Madheshi and hill Janajati groups who constitute over two-thirds of Nepal’s population. It is doubtful if at all such elections could be free from violence if it goes against their will.

For the effective implementation of the Constitution what is essential is to take each of the dissatisfied groups like the Madheshis and hill-Janajati groups into confidence by amending the Constitution to their satisfaction before holding the local elections.

Edited by Jhinuk Sen