Nepal's apex business body to host debate among CA candidates

With the major political parties going through hectic campaigning schedules to woo their voters, the Nepal's apex business body said it will host two sessions of national debate- each in central and regional level- among the candidates who are contesting for upcoming Constituent Assembly ( CA) polls. Organizing a press briefing in Kathmandu on Sunday, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) said it will host one debate in Biratnagar on Sunday and another in Kathmandu on coming Wednesday. The national debate to be hosted in association with National Democratic Institute (NDI) for International Affairs is first of its kind in Nepal. Previously, the private sector used to focus merely on economic agendas. However, due to the failure of previous CA, people from all walks of life have now largely concentrated on the Nov. 19 polls so as to make sure the chosen candidates fulfill their mission of drafting the constitution. FNCCI, also the umbrella organization of Nepal's business fraternity, has put forward "Nepal's political and economic development," as a theme for the debate. "Most of the candidates from the Eastern Nepal will announce their proposed programs and visions for upcoming Nepal during the debate in Biratnagar while, the debate in Kathmandu will feature nine leaders from nine major political parties," FNCCI president Suraj Vaidhya said. He said hosting the national debate, his organization plans to fulfill its responsibility toward the society and the country for better change. FNCCI sources said the main motto of the debate is to make sure that the candidates fulfill the promises they made on the eve of the election after being elected. Almost all contesting political parties have already unveiled their election manifesto with their visions to the social, economic, governance and political forms for the New Nepal. "We have seen leaders ignoring their promises once being elected," Bhaskar Raj Rajkarnikar, FNCCI senior vice president told Xinhua. "Addressing a large mass of people from all quarters of society and convincing them the party's election agenda will make the parties feel some pressure to implement their promises after being elected. The FNCCI expressed its confidence that the presentations of the candidates during the debate will help common citizens to choose their candidates on the basis of their agendas and power to convince. Though the FNCCI had planned to launch such debates across the nation, time constraint did not allow it.