Sunil Babu Pant’s Appeal: Let’s Create History by Voting for the ‘Shrivatsa’ Symbol

Kathmandu – Former Constituent Assembly member and sexual and gender minority rights activist Sunil Babu Pant has appealed for support for the Inclusive Socialist Party through a secret ballot. He mentioned that gender and sexual minorities, persons with disabilities, and workers in the entertainment sector have long been neglected by the state, society, and parliament.

According to Pant, society did not want to see these communities, the state did not seek to listen to them, and parliament failed to include their voices. Pant asserts that it is a serious injustice that no one from this community has reached parliament since he himself served in the first Constituent Assembly in 2008. He characterized this situation not merely as a lack of representation, but as a question directly linked to life, rights, existence, and the future.

Pant stated that while other parliamentarians occasionally raise issues such as education, health, employment, reservation, marriage, ancestral property, identity, and security rights, these issues will remain incomplete until there is direct representation of their own community in parliament. According to him, "Our story cannot be complete without us."

Pant noted that many gay, transgender, and intersex individuals are still unable to publicly reveal their identities. He mentioned that due to family and social pressure, many people are forced into heterosexual marriages. While he emphasized that there is no obligation for everyone to disclose their identity, he stated that because voting is completely secret, history can be made for the community through this medium.

He described the Inclusive Socialist Party as a means to bring the politics of their own pain, struggle, dreams, and dignity to parliament. Therefore, he made a special request to vote for the "Shrivatsa symbol" under the proportional representation category this time.

Pant appealed to voters to inspire their parents, friends, and relatives to vote in favor of the Inclusive Socialist Party. According to him, voting for this community means giving respect to one's own existence.

He urged everyone to view this election not just as a vote, but as a census of identity, a declaration of existence, and a historic opportunity for unity. Despite the presence of their community across all castes, ethnicities, languages, religions, and regions, he called for unity through the secret ballot, noting that they have remained marginalized.

Pant expressed confidence that once they are established as a political force, they will be able to end discrimination, amend laws, create economic opportunities, and ensure a secure and prosperous future. Calling this moment historic, he requested everyone to become their own voice and write history.

Issuing a call to vote for the Inclusive Socialist Party’s "Shrivatsa symbol" under the proportional representation system, Pant gave the message: "We are one, let us become powerful."