KATHMANDU, Feb 8: As the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faced a significant setback in the Delhi Assembly election, CPN-UML leader Mahesh Basnet took to social media to share his take on the outcome—drawing a striking comparison to Nepal’s emerging populist leaders.
On Saturday, Basnet posted an image featuring AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane, remarking that the fall of populist figures and parties was inevitable.
Basnet elected as Ilam district chapter chairman of CPN-UML
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"Kejriwal, who ruled Delhi for years with populist slogans, has now faced defeat. The same fate awaits those in Nepal who rise through similar rhetoric," Basnet wrote.
He further claimed that Kejriwal’s ascent was tainted by corruption allegations and his political alignment with India, drawing a parallel to Rabi Lamichhane’s trajectory in Nepal, which, according to Basnet, is clouded by cooperative fraud issues.
Taking his argument a step further, Basnet hinted that other political newcomers like Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah and Dharan Mayor Harka Sampang could also be on the same path. However, he left their mention open-ended, merely stating, “Let’s not even bring up Balendra Shah and Harka Sampang.”
Basnet’s remarks have sparked discussions in political circles, with supporters and critics weighing in on his comparisons. Whether his prediction holds true for Nepal’s emerging leaders remains to be seen.
