Kathmandu — KP Sharma Oli has said that calls for an open and direct public debate among top leaders of major political parties are a positive development for democracy. He said he is prepared to participate in such debates ahead of the upcoming election.
Election contest and demand for transparent debate
In a statement shared on social media, Oli said both long-established and newly formed political parties are currently engaged in the election campaign. He said the contest represents a choice between forces that aim to build the country and those that could weaken it, adding that the CPN-UML is contesting the election with a focus on nation-building.
Oli said the growing demand from intellectuals and civil society for transparent debates among party leaders may be linked to the increasing use of curated and framed political content on social media. He said such content is often used to influence voters while obscuring a party’s real political record, creating the need for face-to-face public debate.
Readiness to face direct questions and present agenda
He noted that in this election, parties that have played a historic role in national politics, as well as newly established parties, have named candidates for prime minister. Oli said it is constructive for the public to seek direct debates on key questions, including what these parties have achieved in the past and what concrete plans, agendas, and roadmaps they offer for the future.
Oli said he is ready to stand on a public platform to present factual accounts of his past work and outline how he plans to govern going forward. He also said he is willing to take part in a forum where all candidates presenting themselves as contenders for prime minister after the election would face direct questions.
He called for such a public debate to be organized and urged that all sides be brought together on a single platform, allowing voters to make informed decisions based on policies and performance rather than campaign messaging.
