Vote wisely

Those voting in the upcoming elections will have a big responsibility on their shoulders.

After five years of complaining, Nepalis are again presented with an opportunity to vote for the change they want. In a democracy, elections are the most effective way to bring about desired change peacefully. But that is possible only if voters judge the candidates for their agendas, promises and possibilities, and certainly not by renewing old allegiances by blindly voting for a particular party or candidate. There have, thankfully, been some positive changes in how people respond to alternative voices. The victory of independent candidates in local elections in major cities like Kathmandu, Dharan and Dhangadhi suggests that people are indeed willing to tweak their old voting patterns. Not only has the rise of independents shown the possibility of alternative voices in politics, but also drawn the attention of young voters. The change does not stop there. There is a whole new generation of youth leaders who are now contesting parliamentary and provincial elections this time, breaking the narrative that Nepal’s electoral politics is essentially an exercise in gerontocracy.