KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 30

In a rebuke to CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli, the Nepali Congress pledged in its poll manifesto that it would not dissolve the House of Representatives due to inter or intra-party feud. When Oli was the prime minister, he had dissolved the HoR twice, but on both occasions, the Supreme Court reinstated the House, terming the dissolution unconstitutional.

In its 56-page election manifesto, the NC said it would not politicise foreign policy, foreign assistance, international relations, and foreign donor funded projects for momentary political benefit.

The party also pledged not to interfere with the provincial and local governments' powers in violation of the constitution.

The party said the KP Sharma Oli government formed after 2017 elections spent most of its time establishing a totalitarian system, curtailing press freedom and attacking the constitution, constitutional institutions and infringing people's civil rights. The NC said it was because of its role that the twice dissolved HoR completed its five-year tenure and the NC would ensure that the next HoR would also complete its full-tenure.

The NC said if it formed its government after the November 20 provincial and parliamentary elections, it would provide free treatment to children below the age of three years and elderly citizens above the age of 73 years.

The party also promised to provide a death benefit of Rs 10,000 to indigent families if somebody died in their families. The NC also said it would provide free kidney transplant and dialysis service to people who needed such services.

The party stated that it would try its best to attract foreign direct investment.

'In contrast to those xenophobic forces that view all foreign assistance with suspicion, we will make all efforts to transform people's lives,' the party pledged in its manifesto.

Fifty per cent of the population will have opportunity to use electricity for cooking purposes in the next five years. NC has pledged to generate 10,000 MW electricity by the next five years.

Poll commitments of Nepali Congress

• NC to lead efforts to amend the constitution to make it acceptable to all stakeholders.

• Foreign policy to be conducted on the basis of sovereign equality, panchasheel, UN charter and national interests.

• Nepal will follow the rule of law, abide by human rights and adhere to UN conventions and international laws.

• Laws that federal and provincial governments are supposed to enact shall be enacted in one year.

• Access to internet will be increased from the current 28 per cent to 80 per cent in schools within five years.

• The concept of 'one school, one Dalit teacher' will be enforced and federal education act will be enacted within one year.

• All citizens will be insured within the next five years.

• The goal of minimum seven per cent economic growth will be achieved and annually 250,000 new employments will be created in various sectors.

• Tourism sector's contribution to economy will be increased to five per cent.

• New integrated laws to address conflict of interests' issues.

• Efforts to be made to rid public institutions of political interference and appointments in such institutions will be on the basis of certain criteria.

• If a public post holder is accused of corruption or indicted in any criminal incident, investigation shall be launched and the accused shall be relieved of their posts immediately.

A version of this article appears in the print on October 31, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.