Sumana Shrestha Criticizes Exclusion of Overseas Voters

Dissolved House of Representatives member Sumana Shrestha has expressed dissatisfaction over the move to prevent citizens residing abroad from voting.

On Tuesday, through social media, Sumana stated that Nepali citizens abroad should not be deprived of their right to vote under the pretext of lack of time and inability to secure consensus among political parties.

Sumana voiced her discontent on social media after the acting chief election commissioner, Ram Prasad Bhandari, informed the government that arrangements for overseas voting and inter-constituency voting would not be possible, citing "lack of time and failure to get consensus from political parties."

She posed a stern question to the government, asking to disclose the names of the political parties that are against allowing already-registered voters to cast their ballots.

Questioning the government, she said:

"There is a Supreme Court mandamus issued years ago to make arrangements for citizens abroad to vote, but so far, there has been no preparation. Does the Election Commission only start working after the date is announced? If so, what is the justification for permanent employees in the Election Commission?"

She also warned against reverting to old practices and attempting to repeat the same old faces, calling this a crucial phase that embodies the spirit of the Gen Z movement.

She stated:

"This election embodies the spirit of the Bhadra 23/24 revolution; let there be no attempt to revert to the old style of elections and repeat the same faces. If we cannot begin this change this time, we never will. Do not waver; we will help, just as we did when registering voters through the National Identity Card."