Kathmandu — CPN-UML Secretary Dr. Rajan Bhattarai has said Nepal must now prioritize economic agendas over political ones, warning that weak economic performance undermines even the strongest political systems and constitutional arrangements.
Speaking at a discussion titled “Economic Agenda in Party Manifestos” organized on Sunday by the Nepal Economic Journalists Association (NAFIJ), Bhattarai said continued economic fragility has already begun to raise questions about Nepal’s political achievements.
He stressed that economic issues should no longer be treated as secondary, noting that political parties have spent decades focused on political transformation and must now shift decisively toward economic development.
Political Parties’ Role in Driving Prosperity
Bhattarai emphasized that political parties must take responsibility for advancing prosperity by presenting clear economic agendas, long-term vision, sound policies, and effective implementation strategies. He warned that failure to raise and execute economic agendas would eventually erode the relevance of political parties.
He said future election agendas should move beyond infrastructure-centric promises and focus more on employment generation, education, and environmental sustainability. According to him, voters are increasingly concerned about job opportunities and a clean environment, while also seeking credible commitments from political parties on service delivery and good governance.
Shifting Voter Priorities and Policy Direction
“If the economy is not strong, questions will be raised over even the best political system and constitution—and that is already happening,” Bhattarai said, adding that Nepal must move forward with economic priorities to achieve prosperity.
He rejected the narrative that no progress has been made, stating that significant advances have occurred in infrastructure over the past decade despite political instability. Bhattarai said infrastructure has largely ceased to be a major electoral issue in urban areas because of this progress, with local governments now capable of addressing remaining gaps.
As a result, public attention has shifted toward employment, environmental quality, service delivery, and governance. He added that while full privatization across all sectors is not feasible at present, adopting more liberal economic policies remains possible.
