Kathmandu: A group of public intellectuals and commentators has issued a joint appeal urging Nepal’s political parties to embrace reform and participate unconditionally in the upcoming March 5 elections. They have also called on the interim government to ensure a conducive environment for the polls by engaging all stakeholders.
Their statement comes amid growing frustration over the reluctance of top leaders from major political parties—formerly represented in the dissolved House of Representatives—to step aside for new leadership and initiate internal reforms. This inaction persists more than a month after widespread youth-led protests toppled the CPN-UML–Nepali Congress coalition government.
In their appeal released on Wednesday, the signatories warned that failure to hold the elections on March 21 could plunge the country into a serious constitutional and political crisis. They emphasized the urgent need for political parties to undergo structural reforms, hold general conventions, and elect new leadership that reflects the aspirations of the younger generation.
The intellectuals also called on party presidents and chairs of the parties to take moral responsibility for the country’s current state. They urged these leaders to apologize to the public and voluntarily resign, allowing room for fresh leadership.
“If the parties fail to restructure and reform themselves,” the appeal warns, “they will become further unpopular, weak and unaccountable.”
The statement was signed by a diverse group of prominent figures, including Archana Thapa, Indra Adhikari, Uddab Pyakurel, Uttam Babu Shrestha, Kosmos Biswokarma, Krishna Khanal, Kedar Bhakta Mathema, Keshav Dahal, Khagendra Sangroula, Geja Sharma Wagle, Charan Prasai, Chandra Kishor, Jhalak Subedi, Dinesh Tripathi, Dipesh Ghimire, Dovan Rai, Taranath Dahal, Tulanarayan Shah, Bhojraj Pokhrel, Mumaram Khanal, Mina Paudel, Rajani Dhakal, Rajaram Gautam, Lokraj Baral, Bidyadhar Mallik, Binod Sijapati, Sangita Lama, Sanjeev Uprety, Shrawan Mukarung, and Yug Pathak.
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