By TNW correspondent
What is the main determining factor to win the parliamentary election on March 5? The query is troubling, at the moment, all parties and leaders – new and old –as they seek to finalize list of candidates.
Candidacy is key to win poll in 2026, say election-Pundits explaining “old hands and known non-performers in government and parliament do not have any chance this time.”
While new parties are more open for offering opportunities to fresh ones, old political organizations particularly Nepali Congress, CPN UML and Nepal Communist Party want to just introduce new faces as recognition of the wave brought about by Gen Z People’s Movement. “We cannot help retaining old loyal party cadres in candidate-list because of our legacy and cadres’ immensely valuable contribution to party in the past,” they maintain as they explain their political compulsion.
Electability and the way to measure it varies from party to party and leader to leader. A number of parameters are being applied: personal oratory capacity, loyalty to establishment-leadership, social media following, media-exposer, past performance, fresh initiative, publicity in post Gen Z revolution.
Values such as ethical stand, political belief, policy advocacy, agenda-presentation, dedication to political service, political discipline and approach to public issues remain rather as backyard-reference-points.
Although there is a pressing demand for new faces in candidacy in all parties, old time leaders are willing to contest poll like in the past, a media analyst pointed out on Monday. “Many of them have already earned recommendation in this regard from respective constituencies.”
