KATHMANDU, Dec 30: Nepali Congress (NC) senior leader Dr Shekhar Koirala said on Tuesday that the party will neither shy away from elections nor fear defeat, asserting that accepting loss is an integral part of democratic practice.
Addressing the 26th annual general meeting of Morang Samaj Kathmandu, Dr Koirala said a democratic party must be prepared to lose elections but stressed that the government has a responsibility to ensure a credible, peaceful and secure electoral environment.
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“We do not run away from elections. A democratic party can lose—and must be ready to lose—but we will not flee the polls,” he said. “However, the government must do its part and ensure peace and security.”
Dr Koirala noted that all political parties have already submitted their Proportional Representation (PR) lists for the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) election, but warned that the fragile law-and-order situation raises serious questions about whether polls can be conducted in a fair and secure manner.
“The morale of the police has fallen sharply. Everyone must understand that elections are not conducted by the army,” he said, stressing that maintaining peace and security during elections is primarily the responsibility of the police administration.
Dr Koirala also urged the state to swiftly track down escaped prisoners, including hardened criminals, and recover looted firearms to restore public confidence ahead of the elections.
