Kathmandu, October 27
Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has called on political parties to allow an elected government to complete its full term as long as it operates within the limits of the Constitution, warning that premature attempts to change governments could plunge the country into further instability.
In a social media post, Bhattarai said discussions about launching a major protest movement and changing the government had begun soon after the conclusion of Nepal’s major national festivals, describing the trend as unfortunate and concerning.
He said competition and cooperation between ruling and opposition parties, along with criticism and counter-criticism in parliament and on the streets, were normal and necessary features of a mature multiparty democracy.
However, he warned against efforts to topple governments shortly after elections, saying Nepal had repeatedly experienced such political manoeuvring and witnessed its consequences.
“Repeating the same pattern would mean trapping the country in a vortex of uncertainty, pushing the economy further down, forcing children to leave for foreign countries while their parents remain behind in despair, and exposing the country to the risks of an intensifying geopolitical storm,” Bhattarai wrote.
He urged citizens who care about the country and its people to take the issue seriously.
Baburam Bhattarai also called for continued public scrutiny of the government and other state institutions, particularly to ensure that the concerns of disaster victims, historically marginalised communities and economically disadvantaged people reach those in power.
“Let us continuously hold the government and those in various positions of state authority accountable,” he said, adding that officials who fail to listen to the public should be punished or removed through lawful procedures.
He stressed, however, that removing an elected government through constitutional means should ordinarily wait until the next election.
“Let us allow an elected government to complete its full term as long as it remains within the boundaries of the Constitution. If it fails to perform or goes wrong, let us send it home through the next election,” Bhattarai wrote.
