The start of every year brings renewed hope of realising dreams that one failed to achieve due to unforeseen stumbling blocks along the way. Despite numerous challenges ahead, plans are put in place to determine the course of action. The strength in one often separates the difference between success and failure and the desire to achieve it. Such things are no different when looked at from a nation’s perspective. And despite the challenges, Nepal faces numerous fronts; it is the year of general elections.

It is the year that will allow the politicians to be brought to reckoning through the ballot. And more importantly, the people get to chart a new course for Nepal for the next five years. What we witnessed in 2021 concerning politics was an absolute debacle. Infighting between the leaders of CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) led to the disintegration of the Nepal Communist Party, ultimately leading to the ouster of KP Sharma Oli from Baluwatar, if a party accorded majority could not govern for a complete term due to their shortcomings. What can the people expect from the politicians if there happens to be a hung parliament or any other formation short of the majority?

The politicians were busy fighting over ministerial berths and holding mass rallies to the annoyance of the people that entrusted them with power. And amid political chaos, despite thousands of cases being reported in India, the politicians in Nepal seemed ignorant of the problem that was to overwhelm the health sector. Hospitals had run out of beds, and the lack of oxygen exacerbated the second wave leading to the death of thousands of people. And to add insult to injury, the senior citizens who had received their first dose of the Covishield jab were left to fend for themselves without access to the second dose.

The last two years have been challenging for people due to the pandemic. When the politicians should have demonstrated unity to fight the virus, their callous, self-centred attitude did nothing to alleviate the problems people faced. Even now, the pandemic is far from over; the newly found variant Omicron is creating havoc in most parts of the world. While the nemesis looms over us, the authorities still haven’t decided on providing the booster dose for senior citizens.

With the elections at all levels in 2022, what trick up their sleeves do the authorities have to win over the hearts and minds of the people? Do the political parties have the mettle to fight the elections on the economics agenda or any other agenda to lessen pressing concerns of the people? It isn’t very likely. Beneath their tall claims of improving the lives of ordinary people and high-sounding claims to be fighting for the people, what has been exposed in the last two years is nothing but their desire to attain power at any cost. However, despite all the doom and gloom we can hope that things change for the better this brand new year.