Special Editorial: Let Us Not Forget! Let This Never Happen Again, Choose the Agents of Change

Updated: Exclusive: Nepal’s democratic journey has already crossed three decades. During this period, had good governance been upheld and had our leaders been visionary, our country too could have become a developed nation like Singapore. Instead, over the past thirty-five years, rather than climbing the ladder of prosperity, our motherland Nepal has been plunged deep into corruption. Yet the good news is that we now stand at a historic moment — one in which we can grant a mandate for Nepal’s reconstruction and restructuring. A single vote cast for the agents of change carries the power to shape the destiny of our motherland Nepal and its people.

Today, every Nepali carries a public debt burden of nearly one hundred thousand rupees, totaling around NPR 28 trillion. Remittances account for 28.6 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), meaning Nepal’s economy is sustained largely by the earnings sent home by Nepalis working abroad. Every day, between 2,500 and 3,000 young people are compelled to leave the country. Because in Nepal, the unemployment rate among the total youth population is between 20–30 percent. I myself am forced to write this editorial from abroad. For most Nepalis, working overseas is not a choice — it is a necessity. Otherwise, why would anyone willingly leave their birthplace, family, and friends behind to labor in a foreign land?

Let us not forget — once again, a ray of hope has appeared. The general election on Falgun 21 has provided a historic opportunity for structural reform in Nepal, achieved through the people’s struggle and the sacrifices of Gen Z youth.

And we firmly believe that the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which has emerged as a vehicle of change, will receive a mandate from the Nepali people to form a majority government this time. Why?

Nepal has achieved significant milestones — multiparty competition, constitution drafting, and a federal structure. However, public trust is measured not only by political stability but by institutional effectiveness. The fundamental question today is more serious than who forms the government — it is how accountable, transparent, and capable state institutions can become.

In this context, the rise of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) should not be viewed merely as an electoral wave. It should be evaluated as a potential opportunity for institutional reform.

“Citizen Contract”: A Public Commitment to Accountability

Nepal’s administrative crisis is not limited to individual corruption; it is also the result of structural complexity, partisan interference, and policy instability. These problems cannot be resolved merely by changing the government. Institutional restructuring is essential.

RSP has placed at the forefront of its priorities proposals such as “ending partisan capture,” “digital governance,” and establishing a “high-level commission to investigate assets accumulated since 1990,” presenting them as part of a citizen contract. If these proposals are implemented lawfully, transparently, and without political vendetta, they could bring fundamental transformation in administrative restructuring.

Although RSP is not an absolute solution, its reform-centered agenda has deepened public discourse and created competitive pressure even on older parties to pursue reform.

Why Give an Opportunity?

No new political force is perfect at the outset. RSP has presented a clear structural reform agenda. It has demonstrated a commitment to publicly accept accountability. It has made efforts to engage youth and the diaspora community in meaningful policy dialogue.

Its agreement to ensure the continuity of citizenship rights for Non-Resident Nepalis of descent is of historic importance, ensuring that Nepalis remain connected to their motherland for generations to come. Additionally, RSP has shown clarity toward digital and transparent governance. Its commitment to deliver services to citizens online rather than forcing them to stand in queues outlines the blueprint of an efficient government suited to the technological age.

A Test of Institutional Reform

The upcoming election is not merely a competition for power; it is a test of institutional credibility. As RSP presents itself as a reform-oriented alternative force, if it earns public trust, it carries the profound responsibility of transforming that trust into tangible results.

From the perspective of prioritizing institutional reform, giving RSP an opportunity is not merely a democratic experiment — it is a necessary test.

If the current wave of change in Nepal transforms from an emotional surge into genuine institutional reconstruction, it will not simply be the victory of one party — it will signal the maturity of democracy and represent a victory for the entire Nepali people.

In a democracy, the people are supreme.