Nepali Congress has launched a door-to-door campaign targeting the local elections. The party has also said it would dispel the misinformation on Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), clarify the illusions disseminated by some fringe parties, and convince the people on the issue.

Khabarhub engaged in a brief conversation with Nepali Congress Spokesperson Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, who is also a former Minister for Foreign Affairs, on a couple of issues, including the possibility of forging an electoral alliance among the coalition partners in the upcoming local elections. Excerpts:

Nepali Congress (NC) has already launched a month-long election-centric campaign, visiting people’s houses. What is the ambiance?

Yes, we have been visiting districts and villages as part of our election campaign. Party central leaders, as well as local level leaders, have been actively taking part in the campaign. There has been enthusiasm even at the local level. The atmosphere is encouraging. The response has been positive. 

What has been your agenda during the door-to-door election campaign? What are the issues to be explained to the people?

Nepali Congress has both contemporary and local agendas for elections. We are focused on reviewing the work done at the local level and planning for the future.

We also expose the atrocities committed by the opposition at the local level. At the same time, there are national issues.

In particular, we are prepared to publicize anti-people activities, unconstitutional steps and issues of corruption that took place during the Nepal Communist Party and UML-led governments.

We will make the public aware of the reasons why Nepali Congress needs to win the election. In fact, we will convince the people that NC can only uphold the constitution.

We would like to remind the people that the Congress-led government vaccinated 70 percent of the people in a short time and will continue to do so by the time of the election.

We will also be active in dispelling the misconceptions of the people about Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

A section of the society has alleged your party for betraying the nation by ratifying the MCC. There are people who have been pointing fingers at NC. What would be your strategy to convince them?

What has to be recalled is that there were only four lawmakers in the House of Representatives who raised their hands in opposing the ratification of the MCC.

In fact, MCC has been ratified by the parliament almost unanimously. Congress has succeeded in making a consensus on the issue. Some fringe parties are still disseminating rumors about it just to show their existence.

But people are not going to believe them anymore. Some leaders of major political parties are still protesting the ratification, which, however, will make no sense.

Nepali Congress will clarify the illusions disseminated by some fringe parties and convince the people. The people take stock of the parties showing double standards. However, the Nepali Congress is the only party that continues to speak the truth. Now, we will implement MCC at any cost. 

While you have been insisting on implementing MCC, some fringe political parties, including the Biplav-led faction, have threatened to obstruct its implementation. They have said they would go to any extent to make it a failure.

Yes, this is the irony of Nepal. When it comes to major development projects in Nepal, when it comes to big grants, some Left parties try to dissuade them.

They even create obstruction. Therefore, a strong public opinion should be prepared against such activities. Otherwise, Nepal will always fall into a vicious cycle of poverty. We are struggling with scarcity.

To end poverty, we need to open our doors for foreign investments. Projects like MCC should be implemented. The communist parties should stop their tendencies of misinforming the people.

The level of politics that is taking place in the name of poverty can be disastrous. Therefore, the Nepali Congress has launched a campaign to inform the people against misinformation.

People might ask you about the previous commitments that your party made before the people. You had even announced to build a 15-bed modern hospital with maternity services in each village and a 50-bed modern hospital in all the municipalities. Why was that not implemented?

The process has moved forward in some areas. But, a communist government came to the center. The local levels are not in a position to work with their own resources. It will take some time. Even now, we have to depend on the Federal government.

The promises we made before the people in the last elections could not be fulfilled as a Communist party was in government. We are aware of the commitments and our obligations. 

Talking about elections, why do parties keep on deceiving the people with assurances that cannot be fulfilled?

In fact, giving false assurances has become customary in the country. The parties have become campaign-oriented. Moreover, the communist parties are far ahead in disseminating disinformation.

Therefore, sometimes we also need to say something unintentionally. People, who, too, want to hear promises instantly, will trust the party that speaks the most lies. 

Nepali Congress is divided on the issue of maintaining an alliance in the election. What is the specific line of Congress?

Some NC leaders are against the idea of forging an alliance. However, the meeting of the party’s Central Working Committee has decided not to speak on the issue of whether there should be an alliance or not.

We will take the reporting from all districts in the first week of Baishakh. We will listen to the demands of the parties in the alliance. And then we will decide how to proceed because the issue of forging an electoral alliance will be decided only after analyzing the situation. 

Does that mean that your party will forge an alliance as per the then situation?

Yes, we need to analyze the situation as every party does. If other parties in the coalition think it would be advantageous to contest the election by forging an electoral alliance, then we can decide. If not, we will contest the election alone.

Talking about Nepal’s electoral system, there are reports that elections are becoming expensive. Moreover, parties are being accused of trading tickets. What is your observation?

In fact, I am not aware of all these. If there are any exceptions, we can still discuss them. However, the number of people hoping to get tickets is high.

Therefore, those who do not get tickets may have done such propaganda. The main goal of the parties is to win the election. Whoever wins the election will be nominated. Sometimes newcomers also get the opportunity. 

Your party has many undeserving proportional lawmakers. Why do you pick such undeserving candidates instead of capable ones?

I don’t think there should be a debate on giving tickets to a professional. They can also contribute to society and the country. Professionals are also needed for society and the country.