KATHMANDU: Civil society leaders have urged political parties to choose capable, honest and reliable candidates in the November 20 elections.

The civil society call comes as the political parties are in the process of selecting candidates for the election to the House of Representatives and Provincial Assemblies slated for November 20.

Issuing a joint statement this week, 11 prominent members of civil society urged political parties to give due attention to various criteria such as social influence, educational qualification, expertise, skills, capability, performance, among others, while choosing candidates for the elections.

They also pointed out that the role and behavior of political and state actors in the face of elections could have positive influence on the commoners as their action could fill the society with hope and enthusiasm for bettering the governing system and getting rid of malpractices.

Acknowledging that the current practices of the states and politics also, to some extent, have made the society negative, aggressive and hopeless, they warned that continuation of such practices could led to loss of political gains achieved through greatest sacrifices.

Amidst all this, they stressed that political parties and actor could provide a ray of hope and optimism among the public in general.

“A beautiful aspect of Nepal’s democratic practice is that elections, despite challenges, lead to peaceful transfer of power and the same is being done again on November 20,” the statement read.

“Amid such political parties and actors should give attention to their words, behavior as they impact the society and commoners. In this view, parties should also select candidates on the basis of capability, education, skills, social capital and relevant expertise for Nepal’s next elections,” the statement added.

The statement was signed by civil society leaders such as Kedar Bhakta Mathema, Binod Sijapati, Damman Nath Dhungana, Bhojraj Pokhrel and Mohana Ansari, among others.