Kathmandu, March 7: A new political party has scripted a victory in Nepal’s elections, signaling a significant shift in the political landscape. Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was defeated by the former mayor of Kathmandu by nearly 50,000 votes. In an exclusive interview, Arun K. Suvedi, press advisor to former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba and a senior political analyst, shared insights on the changing dynamics and advised the incoming government to adjust its foreign policy with India in mind.
Suvedi emphasized that the new government must be ready to make changes in foreign policy. He stated, “The newly elected party, RSP, needs to consider amending the current constitution, as some provisions related to foreign affairs are outdated. Once the constitution is amended, the RSP government must adopt a foreign policy based on national interests.”
He further advised keeping India in focus, saying, “Our geography is interconnected, our borders meet, our economies are similar, and we share cultural ties. However, our constitution mandates maintaining similar relations with Pakistan and India. We need to foster better relations with both countries, a situation that has arisen due to leftist ideologies. Thus, the primary policy should focus on interests related to India.”
On Nepal’s dependency on India, he remarked, “Our energy security largely depends on India. Nepal lacks its own petroleum refinery and does not have an LNG or LPG pipeline system, making us entirely reliant on Indian supply chains for fuel and gas. We hope that India continues to manage its energy security effectively.”
Discussing the recent political changes in Nepal, Suvedi expressed satisfaction that leftist parties have been ousted. He advised that new, non-leftist groups should unite under a new banner. He claimed that if the Nepali Congress adapts, it could regain power. “I believe they need to improve their ideological stance. My only advice is to unite and adopt a reformist, capitalist, and moderate conservative perspective beyond socialism. If they change, they will surely return to power in the next elections. Embracing popular conservatism could lead to success like PM Modi and Trump.”
Additionally, Suvedi reflected on the strategy of gaining power based on popularity. He stated, “I would like to emphasize that populism is not the solution to all of Nepal’s problems. While populism may yield short-term results, addressing practical economic management and foreign affairs challenges requires a different approach.”
When asked if rising political awareness and Gen-Z voters’ dissent influenced the election results, Suvedi replied, “This occurred because the government implemented policies to ban social media, and there was no legal framework for digital assets, which most young people are familiar with today. This led to significant discontent among a specific group of youth. This movement was driven by this particular group, not by youth from marginalized backgrounds.”
Suvedi highlighted factors influencing changes in voter behavior in Nepal’s elections. He noted, “First, the previous government’s economic policy. The leftist-led governments have completely failed—their economic policies have collapsed. Second, their shortcomings in international relations. The communist government made many decisions related to foreign affairs based on leftist ideologies. Unfortunately, the Nepali Congress was part of that government and was responsible for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
Leave a Comment