ELECTION AND GOVERNANCE IN NEPAL

Election and Governance is the first innovative work on Nepal based on both theoretical and empirical studies. The main variables have been tested empirically at the local level by using survey methods and personal interviews. In the process, 500 respondents from fifteen villages and five municipal committees belonging to five sample districts were interviewed. Starting with the chequered history of Nepals political development, the different areas covered by this study show both the trends of systemic breakdowns and distortions prompting the parties and others to take corrective measures. Democracy is not taken here only as a part of the election system, now described as electocracy. Election is both a mechanism and principle of democracy and is always expected to maintain a balance between genuine participation of people and fair elections. If an incumbent government sees the prospect of power through unfair elections, then the spirit of democracy is defeated.