Path to Democratic Leadership

The Challenge of an Unelected Government

An unelected government should not be a permanent fixture. It is essential for such a government to organize free, fair, and timely elections to transition power to an elected administration. This process requires the current government to feel the pressure to hand over power to a democratically chosen leadership. While this seems straightforward, the reality is far more complex. Even now, the current administration’s mobile phone notifications continue to buzz with updates about a general election. However, the government’s own commitment to conducting polls and the enthusiasm of political parties registered with the Election Commission will determine the outcome. At the same time, it is crucial to address the obstacles that hinder a favorable environment for elections. Genuine efforts from the government are necessary to ensure that the elections are free and fair.

A Government Led by Sushila Karki

At present, the government is led by Sushila Karki. Following the Gen-Z uprising, challenges have increased daily. These challenges are not just for the government but for Nepali society as a whole. Unless society openly discusses, confronts, and reforms its internal issues, it will remain stuck in a dark tunnel. Nepal has its own unique history of social and economic development, different from countries like Bangladesh or Sri Lanka. Repeated democratic movements have aimed to empower the people, yet conditions that could truly strengthen citizens keep slipping into jeopardy. Political instability is now affecting social, economic, environmental, and geopolitical aspects of the country.

The Role of KP Oli and the CPN-UML

Under the leadership of KP Oli, the CPN-UML has become a significant force in size and influence. However, he refuses to acknowledge the existence of the current government. How the UML responds to this situation will shape the country’s future. Meanwhile, some visible and invisible forces are working to declare the remaining parts of the constitution obsolete. Even those who accept the constitution are divided, each holding their own biases. The constitution has weakened because those who manipulate it for personal gain have had unchecked power. Despite being only a decade old, why has it become so fragile? The very powers that claim to have drafted it now avoid accountability.

The Gen Z Perspective

A group of Gen Z activists is pushing harder for a thorough cleanup of corruption than for elections. Their argument is that if elections are held in the current stalemate, the same old figures will return to power. Therefore, they see elections as a secondary priority. Another group advocates for a complete constitutional overhaul before engaging in electoral politics. New ideas emerging within the deep state suggest delaying the electoral calendar until favorable forces can be positioned to win. If the constitution is torn up, what will emerge from the resulting void remains uncertain. Those actively trying to dismantle it may still be confused ideologically for some time.

The Importance of Governance and Elections

The primary responsibility of the Sushila-led government is to strive for good governance, ensure security, and conduct clean elections. These tasks are interconnected and cannot be ranked in order of importance. The government’s performance will determine its acceptance. As it is unelected, prolonged presence could harm democracy itself. If this leadership loses its caution, the government may drift aimlessly like a kite without a string.

The Need for Democratic Institutionalization

Gen Z must understand that building a just society is more complex than toppling a single party’s tyranny. Youngsters who celebrated the fall of an elected government should not assume everything is fixed. If the current framework persists, an unelected regime might last for a long time. No matter how well unelected actors perform, they can never replace an elected government. Risks to a democratic republic, national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the supremacy of the people are greater during such periods. Caution and restraint are essential while moving toward general elections.

The Path Forward

Ultimately, the best way to counter all forms of extremism is through party competition and a mature political culture rooted in parties. Therefore, no matter how attractive or unattractive the current cabinet members may seem, the only way to institutionalize democracy is to push them toward elections. Until we recognize that “the source of power is the people, and it emerges from the ballot box,” the country cannot escape the nightmare of anarchy or militarization.

Responsibilities of the Current Government

Those who have entered Singha Durbar after the Gen-Z upheaval must not forget their core responsibilities. This government was not formed to crown a hero or glorify behind-the-scenes scriptwriters. Its main task is to establish the supremacy of the people. There is no clear message that concrete steps are being taken in this direction. Attempts at religious polarization may occur, and no one knows when or where that matchstick will be struck. There is alarming complacency about the conflicts that religious extremism can ignite. Some are trying to use this wave to gain power. Will Nepali society embrace liberalism, tolerance, and harmony, or will it harbor hatred, contempt for others, and a belief in superiority?

The Inaction of Old Parties

The so-called ‘old’ parties are unwilling to recognize the writing on the wall amid the turmoil. Their incompetence forced the country into this unforeseen chain of events. Yet, no party leader is taking responsibility or attempting a fresh start. They treat the current vacuum as an interval in a cinema hall, confident that the same old practices will resume after the break. Around the world, communists are an endangered political species. In Nepal, communists formed governments only through elections (however flawed), and even with the same stale slogans. Amid the crowd of parties registered with the Election Commission, finding an inclusive Nepal is like searching for a needle in a haystack.

The Impact on Society

Back in the villages, during Mangsir (November-December), traveling ‘bioscopes’ used to arrive during the harvest season to show moving pictures of the world. This Gen-Z wave has turned into something similar. Among them are power-hungry individuals and others clutching various self-interest cards. The Sushila government must endure all of them. It must control the anarchy, immorality, and extremism committed in the name of Gen-Z and guide the country toward good governance. Some Gen-Z leaders complain that ministers or the PM did not answer their calls. The real question is whether the current government has responded to the expectations of ordinary citizens. On governance, the prime minister risks pressure even from her own cabinet colleagues. The demand of the times is transparency and accountability.

Structural Corruption and Social Transformation

Structural corruption within the state machinery remains untouched and unchecked. Exploitation of natural resources has worsened. Mafias have grown more active by capitalizing on political instability. Change is visible only within Kathmandu’s Singha Durbar, while social transformation is absent. Those who refuse to change themselves but want everyone else to do so.

The Fear in Society

Ordinary people remain anxious about future uncertainties. The reason is the endorsement of violence in the name of political struggle and physical attacks in the name of revenge. Even remote villagers are frightened. Security personnel are more terrified. Many hesitate to speak their minds. No one knows who will be attacked, where, or when. In such an atmosphere, democracy cannot take root. The spread of fear leaves democracy gasping for breath. Until every political actor understands the importance of elections and commits to contesting with a radical reform agenda, the journey toward an elected government will remain shrouded in fog.