Nepal’s major political parties unveiling their election manifesto laid emphasis on pursuing a balanced foreign policy maintaining friendly relations with neighbouring countries keeping national interest on focal point.
Rastriya Swotantra Party, an emerging party, in its commitment paper mentions that it will adopt a balanced and dynamic foreign policy to convert the changing global power dynamics and the emergence of neighbouring powers into development opportunities keeping Nepal’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interest as focal points. The party says, it will reposition the country as a vibrant bridge from the earlier model of a buffer state thereby ensuring national interest through adopting trilateral economic partnership and connectivity. The party has proposed former Mayor of Kathmandu Balendra Shah, 35, popularly known as “Balen” as the Prime Ministerial candidate for the March 5 general election.
“Our foreign policy will be based on national interest and sovereign equality,” said Nepali Congress in its election manifesto released on Wednesday. The party has envisioned to position Nepal as a sovereign, peaceful and dignified nation in the global arena. “Our relations with the neighbouring countries will be based on equality and mutual respect,” the party maintained. “Such kind of relationship will be taken forward on the basis of mutual interest and economic partnership,” points out the party in its commitment paper. “We want Nepal to be known as the country of Mt. Everest, Lord Buddha and Pashupati,” the manifesto mentions. “The global community will recognize Nepal as a responsible and dignified country,” it added. The party has named Gagan Thapa, 49, newly elected president of NC, as its Prime Ministerial candidate.
“As a sovereign and independent country, we always want to maintain an honest and friendly relations with our neighbouring countries,” the UML said in its manifesto released on Thursday. “We want to see the rule of justice and maintain peace within the country and in the outside world,” it added. “We don’t believe that any type of military alliance, arms race and war could contribute towards peace, humanity and global security,” reads the manifesto. “We will always stand by global justice and world peace.” The party announces that it will move forward by pursuing a non-aligned foreign policy based on independence, neutrality, justice and world peace. UML has projected the party’s chair and deposed Prime Minister K.P. Oli, 74 as its Prime Ministerial candidate.
Oli and Balen both are contesting from Jhapa -5 constituency, while Thapa is contesting from Sarlahi -4 constituency. With the three Prime Ministerial candidates contesting from southern Nepal districts, the Madhes Pradesh and Koshi Province has become a hot spot of Nepalese election politics these days.
