Elections are a democratic method and system for choosing people’s representatives. It is a good democratic system to elect people’s favorites through elections and send them to the place of policy and construction for the sake of the bright future of the country. As stipulated in the current constitution of Nepal, the general public has been provided with the opportunity to elect the necessary people’s representatives for the formation of the local government, provincial government and federal government. For example, rural municipality people’s representatives, provincial assembly members and members of the House of Representatives for the federal government.

However, Nepal’s electoral practice and process have proven to be very expensive and complicated. For example, a candidate for the ward chairman of a rural municipality has to spend lakhs of rupees. On the other hand, a candidate for the chairman of a rural municipality has to spend nearly crores of rupees. Similarly, tens of crores of rupees have to be spent to become a member of the provincial and House of Representatives. Overall, it is heard in the news that various candidates have spent billions of rupees during an election across the country, which has proven to be very expensive and flamboyant.

From the day the election date is announced by the government, various parties engage in election campaigning with pomp and show. And, from the day the candidate is decided, they continuously present themselves in various styles for 2-3 months. For example, the candidate arranges up to 10-12 vehicles for 2-3 months. Daily petrol provision for hundreds of motorcycles for 2-3 months. Feasts with meat-rice, snacks, expensive beer and liquor, etc. etc. Gifts of clothes and goods to various groups. In addition, election campaigning is done with activities such as distributing cash and money too.

What is the guarantee that the people’s representatives who are elected by spending a huge amount of money will perform their duties honestly and selflessly for the country and the people throughout their term? If a member of the House of Representatives becomes an MP for a full five years, he will receive only 35-36 lakh rupees in salary and allowances. But, he has already spent 5 to 10 crore rupees on election expenses alone. He probably doesn’t spend such a huge amount of money just to become an MP and contest the election! Why does a candidate go ahead to spend so much money just to become an MP? This is a complex question and mystery. And, a conscious citizen should think about this issue seriously.

In a country with a democratic system, the people should have the most important role in the election process. Or, for the prosperity of their country and society and for making the laws of the country, the people’s representatives who are elected and sent to the most sensitive places should be honest, loyal and responsible towards the country and the people.

If a candidate of any political party enters the election competition by spending crores of rupees, what the general public or voters should understand is that there is something wrong with the intention of the candidate who is contesting the election by spending a huge amount of money. It is very important to understand that after winning the election, the candidate is involved in self-serving corruption rather than working for the benefit of the nation and the people.

Another issue is that the electoral system is also a major factor in almost all candidates spending a large amount of money to enter the election competition. When talking about amending the electoral system or expressing what kind of electoral system should be, this columnist may be accused of being a member of a political party. However, when analyzing the current electoral system as an impartial Nepali citizen, this system is a system that encourages corruption.

Therefore, when the current electoral system needs to be amended, it seems necessary to amend it according to two options.

First option: Keep the current electoral system. However, the election campaign should be completely changed. Detailed activities should not be carried out during the election campaign period. For example, no vehicles should be rented and miked for months. Hundreds of youths on motorcycles should not be used to hold rallies for months. Doing so will cost a lot of money on rent and fuel for cars and motorcycles. It is not allowed to host parties, drink alcohol, serve meat, and distribute clothes and any other material. If such activities (all of the above) are found to have been done during the election campaign, the Election Commission should immediately cancel the candidacy. And, such a person should be punished by law and given the maximum prison sentence.

Second option: Abolish the parliamentary system – Executive President System directly elected by the people. Fully proportional electoral system. This system does not allow any person to campaign for legislator by becoming a candidate. And, legislator appointed by the party cannot become a minister. The Executive President directly elected by the people appoints experts in the relevant fields as ministers. In this way, experts in the relevant field can become ministers. Also, since there is no system for electing the Prime Minister from the parliament, the Executive President directly elected by the people can run the government for the entire term without any hesitation. However, since the legislators are not allowed to become a minister and their job is only to make the laws of the country, the necessary laws for the country will be immediately abolished. This system exists in the prosperous nations of the world, such as the US, Russia, and China etc.