नेपालीमा पढ्नु होला

I am not a career politician. Just like you, I am fed up and disgusted with the politicians Nepal has seen, who have time and again proven their incompetence and dishonesty. After spending the last 10 years demanding accountability and creating social change and opportunities from the ‘outside’ in the role of an activist/professional, I have now decided to fight for change from the ‘inside’ by joining the political process. In the upcoming November 2013 CA elections, I am standing up as an 36 year old independent candidate from Kathmandu-5.

I hope you read a little more to get to know me better as a person and candidate.

12 years ago, I returned from the United States of America after completing my education, to support the growth of Nepal’s IT industry. Since then, the people I hired and mentored have gone on to set up more than 25 new IT companies in Nepal, creating jobs for hundreds of people. I also started an organic coffee cooperative for small farmers in western Nepal with the intention of providing alternate to youths who are leaving the villages in droves.

For the last 5 years, I have built career opportunities in Nepal, especially for the youth. I helped set up the 13000+ strong network of ‘Entrepreneurs for Nepal’ that provides young entrepreneurs, both aspirants and newcomers, the knowledge, network, inspiration, and the skills necessary to start a business and create jobs. (More here).

In December 2012, after the robbery and rape of a migrant worker returnees at the hands of our very own government officials, I was among those who helped start and support 107 straight days of #OccupyBaluwatar campaign. The campaign raised awareness of Violence and Women (VAW) issues in Nepal and aimed to combat VAW by driving our political leadership and bureaucracy to amend laws. While political parties give patronage to criminals, I was forcing accountability from Government and Police. The campaign helped deliver justice to “SitaRai”, which hopefully will prevent others from having to undergo the injustice that she had to.

In 2011, I helped start ‘Nepal Unites’, a year-long, informal, citizen-led movement that brought professionals, students, and activists together to 1) demand accountability, particularly of our senior politicians and parliamentarians, and 2) mobilize and motivate every Nepali to speak up and contribute to building a prosperous and responsible Nepal. The movement was rooted in the premise: if citizens unite and join hands, Nepal will transform.

Collaboration is a philosophy that I deeply believe in, a philosophy that guides much of my work, and the approach I will take as an elected parliamentarian.

I truly believe that we, as a country and its citizens, can do better. This beautiful country of ours holds a lot of promise and potential; my blog whynepal.com is a repository of some of my dreams and visions for Nepal. But real, lasting change in the way Nepal is governed won’t come about unless young, competent, dedicated, honest Nepalis, like you and me, work together both within and outside the current established system of governance. Which is why I hope that you find in me the change agent you have waited for.

Do you know who your other Kathmandu -5 CA election candidate options are?

A) Narahari Acharya, Nepali Congress, age 60; career politician for over 25 years; one of the 601 members of the last CA. His primary contribution perhaps is that he introduced the idea of turning Nepal into a republic state. An idea which has been tried and tested, and we thank him for that.  I believe it’s time to move on, and that you deserve a candidate who can deliver more, but also build on and add to what someone like Mr. Acharya has contributed.

B) Iswar Pokhrel, UML, age 59; career politician for over 25 years: His contributions: Do you remember any? Neither do I. It’s definitely time to move on.

I am tired of waiting for someone else to come and fix our dysfunctional state of politics and governance. Haven’t we all seen the same old faces, who’ve failed us and the country time and again?

This time vote for RESPONSIBLE CHANGE. I believe I am the honest political alternative that you’ve been looking for.Time to leave the past and bet on your future.This election season, vote for UjwalThapa, 36 year old Independent Candidate in Area 5 – Kathmandu.

My symbol  – Dog; a mark of sincere loyalty & honesty and a watchdog of the citizens.

[Area 5 covers Ward 2,3,4 and 5 . It also covers the following VDC’s: Dhapasi, Khadka -Bhadrakali, Bishnu-Budhanilkantha and Tokha.
In other words, it covers area from Kapurdhara to Lazimpat to Sano Gaucharan to Dhumbarahi to Bansbari to Hattigauda to Budhanilkantha to Tokha and back to Dhapasi]

Download the PDF version: (in English) and (in Nepali).