KATHMANDU, Oct. 4: At the meeting today of the Legislature-Parliament, Members of Parliament emphasized on the need for state funding to political parties based on the votes they received in order to ensure free, fair and fearless elections. 

The provision of state funding would do away with the role of money in elections and would also stop parties from seeking donations, they said. 

Expressing his view on the proposal seeking consideration on the 'Bill related to political parties, 2073 B.S.' tabled by Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi, MP Janak Raj Joshi argued that threshold was essential in order to make multi-party system transparent and dignified. 'Absence of threshold to be qualified as a party has given room to political anarchy in the country,' he said. 

Meanwhile, MP Dilnath Giri expressed concern over the proposal made in the bill to stop parties from using cow as an election symbol. The provision is against the constitutional provisions, MPs Kunti Kumari Shahi and Bikram Bahadur Thapa said while demanding correction to the same. 

MP Ganesh Man Gurung called for a provision in the bill that would ensure full implementation of the provision to ensure 33 per cent women's representation through coming elections. 

However, MP Dilli Prasad Kafley said the proposal to distribute funds from the state coffers to political parties was wrong, and that it would not be accepted. 

Parliamentarian Ram Narayan Bidari said that no provision should be formulated to make the parties incapable by trapping them with legislations. 

Similarly, MPs—Pemba Lama, Rajendra Kumar KC, Ramhari Khatiwada, Bharat Kumar Shah, Yogendra Tamang Ghising, Shiva Chandra Chaudhari, Kamala Panta, Pratikshya Tiwari Mukhiya, Bikas Lamsal and Bhaskar Bhadra urged to correct the provision to allow formation of a party with 500 signatures. 

They expressed the view that a legal provision of at least 3-5 per cent threshold should be made. 

Likewise, lawmakers Rukmimi Chaudhary and Haricharan Saha said that no provision of threshold should be made against the sentiment of the constitution. 

Responding to queries of lawmakers, DPM and Home Minister Nidhi said that he presented the bill on the basis of discussion among all concerned sides. 

He further said that the government would take initiative to make the election systematic, disciplined and free, adding an arrangement has been made for easy and smooth participation of all parties in election. 

With the response of DPM Nidhi, the meeting approved the 'Bill related to political parties-2073 BS' unanimously. 

Similarly, the Bill related to Voters' roll-2073BS' was also approved unanimously. Lawmakers Janakraj Joshi, Prem Suwal and Mina Pun had expressed their views on it. 

The House today also approved the 'Bill related to Election Commission-2073'.

Parliamentarians—Janakraj Joshi, Geeta Chhetri and Prem Suwal expressed their views on the bill. 

The bill related to Paris Agreement on Climate Change presented by Minister for Population and Environment, Jaydev Joshi, was also approved unanimously. 

The next meeting of the parliament has been scheduled for 1:00 pm on October 16. RSS 

 
• legislature-parliament
 
• members of parliament
 
• elections
 
• major political parties