Election manifestos: Ambitious and tall promises

BHISMARAJ OJHA, KATHMANDU, Nov 5: The political parties contesting the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives and State Assemblies appear very ambitious and seem to be nothing more than a gimmick to woo voters.

The major ruling party-Nepali Congress (NC) has declared to construct five international airports in the next 10 years while CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Center have stated to sail ships with Nepal’s flag on the water of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

The election manifestos are yet to take the public into the confidence who are compelled to ply the dusty and muddy roads in the capital city and major cities and making perilous journeys, as the promises appear tall tales to them.

NC’s manifesto makes commitment to job creations and envisages the national economy to grow in size up to Rs 10 trillion in 10 years.

The election manifesto jointly drafted by the CPN-UML and CPN-MC pledges to operate the trains in the Kathmandu Valley in the next five years.

Similarly, the manifesto of the left alliance also ensures to illuminate the country within three years by installing transmission line parallel to the Pushpalal Highway. Construction and operation of Karnali, Gandaki and Koshi corridors also figure in their manifesto.

Likewise, NC has expected to welcome foreign investment in productive sector amounting to around Rs 100 billion to 500 billion annually and reduce the percent of the people living under the poverty line to less than three percent.

NC’s manifesto also incorporates various issues including all new buildings and houses would be mandatorily quake-resistant and 45 per cent of area of the country would be covered by forest which is like to be on paper only not in practice through these political parties have been holding reins of the leadership since People’s Movement in 1990.
CPN-UML and CPN-MC also promise to construct Kathmandu-Terai fast track within four years, increase the per capita income to USD 5,000 and provide round-the-clock electricity to the industrial area and roads.

The list of such promises continues to spread false dreams among the people before the elections and it is evident that if all the promises made during the election were fulfilled, it would help facelift the country.