Electrol process well-honoured in NC

It is really encouraging to see Nepali Congress, the oldest democratic party of Nepal, honouring sincerely the electoral process inside the party during the 14th national convention. Because of this representatives have got the opportunity to offer candidature and vote freely to represent various clusters of communities in the country, generational groups and ideas. The way the president, two vice-presidents, two general secretaries, eight joint secretaries and members of the executive committee were elected could be termed democratic and exemplary for other democratic parties. Practicing such electoral process in specified periods of four or five years would certainly enable political parties to be the voice of the people and the server of the people. The trend to monopolize power in party for years together irrespective of performance could also be checked through this. Moreover, the opportunity to make the leaders accountable for what they do or fail to do through offices of power could be ensured through such electoral process in a democratic manner; fresh cadres of parties could have future through openings for leading and introducing fresh initiatives in the old party; and people-centric politics could prosper in place of leader-driven system in the party. All these potentialities could be institutionalized in the NC if the newly elected leaders of NC performed well during the next four years. If they could not do so, the party would lose its mass-appeal which is essential for it to remain central in the country’s politics. Another feature promoted by the 14th Convention is the special care for the elected representation at levels of joint-secretary for eight clusters of Nepali society – women, dalit, indigenous, Madheshi, Khas-Arya, Tharu, Muslim and backward. Members of these clusters also got the opportunity to be represented in the topmost body of the party not through the nomination but through the electoral process. The phenomenon could inspire the cluster-members to be competitive in politics through energizing and empowering processes instead of being dependent on the process of nomination or reservation. Those who got elected competitively should now acquire more political skills and experiences to perform well and provide an example for others in the clusters. The competitive entry of a number of youths in the party’s top decision making body is yet another achievement of the Convention. Those who have been elected have to prove that presence of youths could make a difference in the party’s performance particularly its dedication to ensuring governance and service to the public. The way they do it will determine the future of the party. They do not have comfort to be indifferent towards it under any excuse. Had the NC utilized modern Information Communication Technology in the Convention it would have been much better and comfortable for all the representatives. Use of manual system in the electoral process turned out to be tedious and delaying, somewhat unusual in the Internet era. The fresh leadership in the party organization would definitely take this issue into consideration and seek to change in future as per the demand of smart technology. Party politics after all cannot remain behind in the race for modern technology.