When pragmatism takes precedence in politics, not only do principles fade, but political ideals also take a backseat. Politics in Nepal is currently witnessing exactly this phenomenon. This is unfortunate for a country striving to grow as a healthy democracy, where accountability, transparency, and good governance are highly valued.

The judiciary's renaissance in Nepal may be traced to a number of historic decisions and reforms that have reinforced the court's position as the protector of the constitution and human rights. Ensuring merit-based nominations and improving judicial accountability have been made possible in large part by the Judicial Council, which is in charge of all judge appointments, transfers, and disciplinary proceedings.

For missed shots or lost points that are entirely a result of the player's own blunder and not because of the opponent's skill or effort in tennis we call that to be an “unforced error”. The term especially used in the game of tennis suits much to our Nepalese politics and for leaders too.

As a result of never-ending transitions and political instability in Nepal, even after thirty years of the multiparty system and nine years of the present constitution, politics is constantly sliding from democratic norms towards autocratic dynamics, and the economy is on the edge of collapse.

KATHMANDU, July 12: The Nepali Congress (NC) has said there is no need for instructions from anyone regarding safeguarding the constitution and democracy as the NC has been fighting for the same cause since its inception.

The biggest festival of democracy, the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, are concluding today in our nation, the Mother of Democracy. After a three-day spiritual journey in Kanyakumari, I have just boarded the plane for Delhi. Through the day, Kashi and numerous other seats have been in the midst of voting.

KATHMANDU, May 3: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, has said that democracy will not be complete without freedom of the press and freedom of expression.

The elections held last Saturday in Bajhang for a provincial assembly member and a federal parliamentarian in Ilam have helped to understand where the country's political winds are blowing. The results of this election have also answered the question of which party, ideology, or leader the voters favor, or how much they dislike politics.

KATHMANDU, April 7: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Rabi Lamichhane, has expressed his hope that a draft of the Election Management Bill will be further enriched by the sovereign parliament.

New Delhi and Washington appear to be squaring off for a fight over the U.S. expressing its concerns about the Modi government’s actions ahead of the general election. After the U.S. State Department spokesperson first made a comment on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned the acting Deputy Chief of the U.S. mission in Delhi and sternly called on the U.S. to desist from interfering in India’s internal affairs.

The year 2024 is becoming an election year in the global arena. An overwhelming 2 billion voters in 50 countries will turn to the polling centres to cast their ballots exercising their universal franchise, a beauty of democracy to elect their representatives to govern.

WASHINGTON, March 1: Democracy faced sharp, widespread setbacks worldwide in 2023 with violence and manipulation marring a series of elections, Freedom House said Thursday.

A number of economic scandals, being continuously exposed one after another in recent years, have raised grave questions about the moral fabric of Nepal’s democracy. As most of the already unfolded scandals have been found to be treated with an undesirable degree of superficiality, the moral crisis in the Nepali political spectrum is getting further deepened.

The ever-increasing prevalence of online misinformation and disinformation has emerged as a significant threat to democracy today. This has also undermined the fundamental pillars of democracy such as law, information and representation, resulting in chaos and mistrust in the democratic system. Disinformation is often weaponized by political entities and frequently launched, targeting the general population to destroy their sense of reasoning, thereby creating mistrust in institutions, the system, government, and the democratic process as a whole.

KATHMANDU, Feb 19: There is a saying - democracy dawned in Nepal in 2007 BS but the people of Jumla came to know about it only in 2008 BS! The essence of this saying is that the residents of remote and rural Jumla, which is far away from the capital, got the news of the arrival of democracy too late due to the lack of transport and communication.

KATHMANDU, Feb 19: President Ram Chandra Paudel has expressed belief that democracy fosters national unity along with social justice, equality, social harmony and prosperity.

LONDON Jan 11: More than 50 countries that are home to half the planet's population are due to hold national elections in 2024, but the number of citizens exercising the right to vote is not unalloyed good news. The year looks set to test even the most robust democracies and to strengthen the hands of leaders with authoritarian leanings.

Academicians, political leaders, youth activists, and civil society representatives express concerns over the erosion of democratic principles and values and shrinking civic space.

On September 20 this year, Nepal marked the eighth anniversary of the promulgation of the constitution. The Constitution of 2015 holds special significance as it was drafted by the Constituent Assembly, which brought about a major political shift in the country by adopting federalism as a system of governance.

KATHMANDU, Sept 20: Acting Prime Minister and Defence Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka has said that the government is continuously effortful towards giving an impetus to the constitution implementation and fulfilling the aspirations of the country and people by establishing political stability, peace and good governance.

KATHMANDU, Sept 19: Former Chairperson of Council of Ministers, Khil Raj Regmi, has extended his wishes that the Constitution Day would inspire everyone to uphold constitutional procedures and the rule of law, making a way towards a happy journey of democracy and prosperity.

There was a time when politics was taken as a field of study with deep interest and politicians were given due respect because of their conviction, dedication, and service to society. Leaders were taken as the harbinger of change and acclaimed. But today, the scenario has dramatically taken a U-turn where politicians are taken as scoundrels, and thieves of the treasury because of their changed role and contribution to society with a bad name.

Nepal, a landlocked country situated in the Himalayas, has witnessed significant political changes and challenges over the years. With a diverse population and a complex socio-political landscape, political parties have played a crucial role in shaping Nepal's governance and democracy. However, recent developments have raised questions abo, ut the future of political parties in the country.

KATHMANDU, July 6: The CPN (Maoist Center) has said its serious attention has been drawn toward the 'misinterpretation' of the statement about Sardar Pritam Singh made by party Chairman and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Nepal is losing its momentum in meeting the expectations of its people as a flourishing democratic nation with prosperity and advancement. In the 15 years following the announcement of Nepal as a federal democratic republic in 2008, and particularly after the promulgation of the constitution under a new political setup, the country is descending into chaos, exhibiting all the characteristics of a failed or failing state.

KATHMANDU, May 5: Speaker Devraj Ghimire has described the right to information (RTI) as the lifeline of democracy.

Nepal, like many countries, faces the challenge of systemic corruption in various sectors, including politics. As the country strives to strengthen its democracy and promote fairness in the political process, one tool that is gaining some attention is public financing of elections.

KATHMANDU, Feb 10: Chairman of Nepal Samajwadi Party and former prime minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai has said that today’s alternative politics is all about strengthening institutions by strengthening democracy.

A functioning democracy is built on the foundation of transparency, without which it cannot truly be called a democracy. The people choose democracy as their system of governance because it empowers them with the right to know and understand the actions of their elected representatives.

Nepal should also replace representative democracy with direct democracy. Until then, we have to keep electing young and competent politicians in the general elections. It is always good to see Millennials sweeping into public offices.

KATHMANDU, Nov 17: Prime Minister and Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that it is everyone’s responsibility to make the historic elections to the House of Representatives (HoR) and provincial assemblies scheduled for November 20 a success.

NAWALPARASI WEST, Nov 16: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has called for the victory of the ruling coalition in the November 20 elections for the defense of democracy and the constitution. Addressing an election gathering held on Tuesday, he said that it is necessary for the ruling alliance to win for economic prosperity along with peace, constitution and democracy.

KATHMANDU, June 27: Newly appointed Minister for Urban Development, Metmani Chaudhary, has directed employees at the ministry and other subordinate bodies to perform and deliver in accordance with the Constitution and the relevant laws.

The fact that politically unaffiliated dynamic young candidates like Balen Shah and Harkaraj Sampang Rai were elected as the mayors of two big cities of Nepal shows a new local political movement has arrived in Nepal as well. This type of political movement is known as Flatpack Democracy - a small-scale revolution that is bringing real change to local politics. Citizens are reclaiming their respective cities from political parties.

The elements of a functional democracy must include the following: separation of power, independent judiciary, direct or indirect participation of the people, rule of law, transparency of the government officials, safeguard of fundamental rights, free and fair elections, to name a few. I challenge any of our contemporary political leaders to say if even half of these parameters have been met in Nepal.

DANG, May 9: Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the current coalition was forged among political parties that are in favor of democracy and transformation.

MAKWANPUR, May 2: CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli has said local level elections should be conducted effectively to keep parliamentary democracy intact.

Living a hypocritical way of life is oxymoronically comfortable, but the sad reality is that, doing so, we are marching toward a society characterized by ‘individual brilliance and collective failure’.

Democracy seems to delight people only as long as they feel they are getting fast, fair and free services from the local bodies.

This escalating ideological crisis within the political parties, lack of vision and clear action plan, disregard to the democratic norms in the selection of party leadership, sidelining the issues of inclusion as envisioned by the Constitution of Nepal, leaves ample grounds for suspicion on the ability and intention of political parties to institutionalize the nascent republican system of governance in Nepal.

What will happen if the AI governance setup of the future feels a monarchy in a democratic setup is preferable to the anarchy created by dysfunctional democracy?

There are a host of issues before the election commission and the state to address as a challenge in order to strengthen and defend the electoral democracy, fostering more inclusive and participatory elections.

Hope is all we have. Let’s hope 2022 will be a productive year in Nepal’s journey to peace and prosperity. Let’s hope we all will let our hopes, not our hurts, shape 2022.

When the judiciary, constitutional and regulatory bodies are turned into epicentres of corruption, run by nominees notorious for their malpractices or nominated through unconstitutional processes, there is nothing which makes us optimistic about a democratic polity.

Democracy, "of the people, by the people, and for the people” cannot tolerate political nexus with foreign agents, syndicate, nepotism, intolerance, oligarchy, plutocracy, kleptocracy, commissions, corruptions and lawlessness including exemption from punishment to bigwigs and politicians suspected to be liable for criminal offences, which signify mockery of Federal Democracy, and Legislative, Executive and Judiciary as becoming dysfunctional – a recipe for the next democratic revolution.

DEUKHURI, Nov 4: CPN-UML leader Shankar Pokhrel has said that the dispute of judges of the Supreme Court and launching the agitation is the game to weaken democracy.

KATHMANDU, Nov 3: Former Chief Justice (CJ) Kalyan Shrestha has said that the democracy of Nepal has evolved into a company. He made the comment while speaking at a book release program on Wednesday.

TUNIS, July 26: Tunisia faced its biggest crisis in a decade of democracy on Monday after President Kais Saied ousted the government and froze the activities of parliament, a move his foes labelled a coup that should be opposed on the street.

KP Oli’s tendencies are wholly and growingly anti-democratic. He seems to hold no conception that an MP’s power to vote in parliament is derived from the trust from the sovereign people, and not from the party’s chairman.

The deepening crisis of intraparty democracy brushes off the achievement of democratic values and legal standards and creates a feeding ground for brutal and egregious dictators. We are, in a true sense, living under a dictatorship.