Time to quit

Top leaders of most political parties particularly the leading ones should learn one lesson from the recent Gen Z revolution: their time for leadership is up; they had better prepare way for fresh leadership as soon as possible. They could opt for serving as warden if their party-persons do not object to that proposition. If they fail to learn or try getting glued to top chair under one excuse or the other, they will be shown the door sooner or later. The message is rather unpalatable for them because some of them enjoyed the best for over a decade while others did so for most of the past 35 years. Sacrificing that power-pleasure over state-resources would of course be painful but there is no better alternative. Failure in presiding over the democratic change in 1990s and weakness in making the best of the democratic federal republican constitution over the past decade could not be wished away. Both will continue to chase them and they have limited logic to defend. Their history of high sacrifice and contribution to struggle for freedom and democracy cannot be denied; it cannot be challenged; it remains for ever as historic milestone in Nepali politics. Political parties should, however, understand, as important institutions of the country, the political reality of the present time and move forward appropriately and carefully. As they head for the fresh general election for House of Representatives scheduled six months later they should have freshness, innovativeness and pragmatism in agenda, political faces and policies. Their experience and fresh leadership with appropriate political wisdom could guide them in this regard. Responding politically to the Gen Z particularly its aspirations in the country is the need of the hour. Prime Minister Sushila Karki while addressing the Constitution Day function at Tundikhel the other day took special care in mentioning this appropriately. She sought to bridge the gap between politicians in power and general people in the ground. Her respect for the constitution and all the democratic values and rights enshrined in it was clear. So was her commitment to fill the void in politics, governance and security created in the aftermath of the Gen Z revolution. The President in his message on the day also pointed out the need for political parties to change their way of politics in view of the success and demand of Gen Z revolution. All stakeholders of democracy, governance and anti-corruption move should contribute to that change. Each of them should consider it their duty to facilitate the change. That change, as all agree, could materialize through the election which is the tool through which people govern the country.