Dalit parliamentary representation declines further in democracy
Summary
Dalit representation in Nepal's parliament continues to decline, with major political parties fielding very few Dalit candidates for direct elections in the upcoming House of Representatives election.
Key Points
- Dalit representation in Nepal's parliament has been historically weak and is expected to decline further in the upcoming election due to negligible Dalit candidates fielded by major political parties.
- The Nepali Congress has nominated only one Dalit candidate out of 165 constituencies, while other major parties have nominated very few Dalits for direct elections.
- Dalits constitute 13.4% of Nepal's population but their political representation through direct elections is minimal, often constrained by caste-based discrimination and election costs.
- Dalit women and Madheshi Dalits face even greater marginalization, with very few nominated for parliamentary positions despite constitutional provisions for local government representation.
