KATHMANDU, May 16: During the second Constituent Assembly election in 2013, very few candidates enjoyed as much media attention as Ujjawal Thapa, chairman of Bibeksheel Nepal Party (BNP). Thapa, who contested as an independent candidate from Kathmandu constituency 5, was able to grab headlines in local and international media, not to mention a huge social media frenzy over his poll campaign.
But as the voting results came in, it was clear Thapa's popularity had been limited to media platforms. He managed to get just 1,163 votes, trailing way behind the candidates of major parties.
Four years on, BNP's journey as an alternative force is just beginning, although early results in the local elections show that the fledging party is much stronger now.
Early vote counting shows BNP Kathmandu mayoral candidate Ranju Darshana in fourth position behind UML's Bidhya Sundar Shakya, Sajha Nepal candidate Kishore Thapa and Nepali Congress man Raju Raj Joshi. By the time Republica went to press on Sunday, Darshana had received 29 votes.
With more than 95 percent of the vote yet to be counted, it may be way too early to draw any conclusion.
The big surprise in the early vote count is that Sajha party mayoral candidate Thapa is neck and neck with the UML candidate. Thapa's party was formed just two months back and lacks any organization.
Thapa has received 32 votes so far, which is right on the heels of the UML candidate's 43 votes.
It may take years, if not decades, for new parties to establish themselves as credible alternatives to the big parties, but the level of enthusiasm showered on them by the general public indicates that they are here to stay.
Political observers say Sajha and BNP are an alternative voice for the growing number of people disillusioned with establishment forces.
“It may be too early to say anything as vote counting has just started. But the new parties have been able to attract the urban young,” said Krishna Pokharel, professor of political science.
The general public, and especially young voters, are increasingly alineated from the mainstream political parties because of the prolonged political stalemate, lack of employment, corruption and a dysfunctional state. This is one important reason for the growing attraction toward political startups.
Most of the new parties have made accessible public services, economic development, jobs, transparency, better social security, health care and clean politics their main electoral planks.
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However, most of these outfits still lack clear ideology as well as good organisation. Some have been criticized for not having a clear stance on numerous political issues, including the dispute over the new constitution.
“Mayoral candidates of the new parties were able to grab significant media coverage while the major parties were struggling to choose their candidates. That also helped shape the narrative,” said Pokharel.
Though the new parties are unlikely to win any seats this election, political observers said their share of the vote will decide which of the two major parties wins in Kathmandu.
