- Thursday, 19 February 2026
Kathmandu, Feb 18: Nepali Congress has made its manifesto public in the lead up to the House of Representatives elections. The manifesto was made public today from Janakpurdham.
The manifesto was made public in the presence of party president Gagan Kumar Thapa, vice president and coordinator of the election mobilization committee Bishwaprakash Sharma, vice president Pushpa Bhusal, and Madhes Province president along with senior leaders.
In the context of the manifesto being made public, the Nepali Congress held a press conference at the party office in Sanepa today and informed about the points of the Vision 10. The Nepali Congress has stated that it aims to form a democratic government with a majority, dedicated to the public interest.
At the press conference, Party Spokesperson Devraj Chalise said that the Congress wants the performance to be evaluated based on the implementation of the plan mentioned in the manifesto. The Congress claims that it is committed to not only showing the pledge but also implementing it and putting into practice the slogan of a prosperous Nepal and respected Nepalis.
Called the ‘Congress pledge’, the manifesto has been presented in simple terms as a summary of ‘Vision Ten’. The 10 visions include a Nepal where people can live with dignity, a Nepal where people can dream, a Nepal that encourages job creation, a Nepal of farmers who feed the people and make the country known, a Nepal that provides medicine and shelter, a Nepal where children do not have to bear the financial burden, a Nepal where the rule of law is in effect, a modern Nepal that is proud of its origins, a self-respecting Nepal that the world respects and a Nepal that thrives on prosperity
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23- RSS’s 65th anniversary: 11 best performing RSS workers to be
awarded
Kathmandu, Feb 18: The , the state-owned new agency of Nepal, has decided to honour and award its 11 employees and journalists working in different sections on the occasion of its 65th anniversary.
A meeting of the RSS Board of Directors presided over by Executive Chair Dharmendra Jha today endorsed the proposals forwarded by the recommendation committee formed for the nomination of awards and honours.
As per the official decision, Photo Editing Section Chief, Yuddha Kumari Khadka and Senior News Assistant at the Nepali News Editing Section, Geeta Parajuli are to receive the award towards Best Editing carrying a purse of Rs 10,000 each.
Likewise, RSS Gandaki Province Office Correspondent Ram Bahadur Thapa and Central Office Correspondent Sushil Darnal will be provided with the RSS Best Reporter Award with Rs 10,000 each.
The Best District Stringer Award will be offered to Krishnaram Pariyar (Hetauda), Bijay Rawat (Jumla), and Ranjita Adhikari (Dang). The award carries a purse of Rs 20,000 each.
Likewise, the best feature award amounting to Rs 20,000 will be presented to the RSS Birganj Office chief, Himal Lamsal.
Likewise, the prize of Rs 20,000 for the best photo and audiovisual work will be awarded to Sushil Babu Thakali (Mustang).
Similarly, Chief of the RSS Accounts Section, Rudramani Adhikari and Driver Yadav Prasad Gotame will be awarded Rs 10,000 each, from among the admin/final staffers.
The RSS board approved the proposals of the awards recommendation subcommittee, led by Deputy General Manager and Chief of the News Division, Somnath Lamichhane.
All these awards will be presented on February 19 (Falgun 7) at the RSS Central Office, Bhadrakali, by Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav.
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24 – Four people, including NCP general secretary Kattel, arrested
Kathmandu, Feb 18: Nepal Communist Party (NCP) General Secretary Rishi Kattel has been arrested for his alleged involvement in anti-election activities.
Rameshwar Karki, Superintendent of Police, also spokesperson of Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office informed that Kattel was arrested from Kirtipur today. He said so far four people have been arrested in connection with anti-election activities.
According to him, Nepal Communist Party (Bahumat) General Secretary Dharmendra Bastola, leader Bishnu Prasad Timilsina and SP Sah of Durga Prasai-led group were also arrested on Tuesday night.
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25- RSP in election to change the face of the country, says Lamichhane
Kailali, Feb 18: President of Rastriya Swatantra Party, Rabi Lamichhane, has said that the Rastriya Swatantra Party is contesting the elections to change the face of the country.
Addressing the Change declaration meet organized by the Rastriya Swatantra Party in Dhangadhi today, he said that the RSP will raise its voice against political distortions and anomalies and empower the people. “This time we have come to the elections keeping the political aspirations of the country at the center.”
The Rastriya Swatantra Party is looking forward to a stable government for five years, he said and urged the people to exercise their right to vote wisely during the March 5 elections.
At the same program, senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, Balendra Shah, said that the responsibility of building the Sudur Paschim and the country has now fallen on the shoulders of the Rastriya Swatantra Party. He said that if it can become the largest party and enter the government through the elections, it will make the dreams of the Nepalis come true.
Senior leader Shah mentioned that the party’s agenda includes issues such as education and health that the poor and disadvantaged groups should receive.
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26 – 10th Election Day being observed on Thursday
Kathmandu, Feb 18: The 10th Election Day is being celebrated on Thursday to commemorate the day when Nepali adults were able to exercise their right to vote after the general election began in Nepal.
The first general election was held on Falgun 7, 2015 BS, eight years after the establishment of democracy in 2007 BS in the country.
As the focus this year is on the upcoming House of Representatives elections, the day is being celebrated by organizing a program at the Kantipath premises of the Election Commission on Thursday, the Commission’s Information Officer Suman Ghimire told RSS.
The Election Commission, a constitutional body, has been conducting elections from local levels to the federal, including for the post of the president in a periodic manner. The Commission is making final preparations for the election of members of the House of Representatives to be held on coming March 5.
Since the promulgation of the current constitution, the Commission has already conducted two periodic elections to the House of Representatives, provincial assemblies and local levels, three elections to the post of President and the Vice President, and various elections and by-elections to members of the National Assembly.
In all periods of history and every new achievement of political change, the country has been fulfilling its constitutional obligation to provide legitimacy to the governance and electoral system adopted by it through elections in accordance with the constitution and law.
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27- I believe that the RSS will be effective for fact-based, balanced and credible news, says PM Karki
(To be publicized on February 19)
Kathmandu, Feb 19: Prime Minister Sushila Karki has said that the role of all types of media is important in making the elections fair, impartial, dignified, transparent and credible. Accordingly, the government expects RSS to play a similar role in the House of Representatives elections to be held on March 5.
“I am confident that an organization like RSS will spare no effort to make the election environment positive by dispelling the misleading content that may be spread in other media outlets and by informing the public in a fact-based, balanced and credible manner,” the Prime Minister has said in a congratulatory message on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the National News Agency or RSS.
Nepal is currently in the midst of the House of Representatives elections and a new government is about to be formed as an outcome of the GenZ movement in favor of good governance and corruption control on September 8 and 9. She said that the role of all organs of the state, political parties and the media sector will be extremely important in making the March 5 election a success. “I wish that RSS will continue to be a source of truth and official information in the coming days, by further strengthening itself and achieving success in producing diverse and quality news content.”
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28 – RSS 65th Anniversary: Vice President Yadav extends best wishes for
more vibrant services
(To be disseminated on February 19)
Kathmandu, Feb 19: Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav has extended best wishes to for its more effective and professional services to strengthen national unity and sovereignty.
While extending his best wishes to all the media personnel, employees, and subscribers associated with the organization on the occasion of its 65th anniversary today, he expressed confidence that RSS can play a more responsible role in strengthening federalism, inclusive democracy, republic, secularism, inclusiveness, equality and good governance.Vice President Yadav said, “The RSS should make its service more vibrant by further refining itself, using the latest information technology, producing content in the mother tongue, expanding news at the local level and giving priority to various topics of public service, it will help the country move towards progress while respecting national unity, social harmony and cultural diversity. “
He said that the role of media is indispensable in promoting freedom of expression, public awareness and social awareness in the democratic journey of the country. In his message, the Vice President has said, “May the 65th anniversary of RSS inspire all concerned to make the institution more professional, credible and people-oriented”.
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29- RSS’s 65th anniversary: RSS contribution to dissemination of fact-
based news laudable – President
(To be disseminated on February 19)
Kathmandu, Feb 19: President Ramchandra Paudel has appreciated the RSS activeness towards the expansion and diversification of services as well as consolidating the institutional development.
In his message to the RSS family on the occasion of its 65th anniversary, President Paudel acknowledged the contributions of the state-owned new agency in manufacturing and disseminating objective and credible news and information.
“As the only news agency of the country with its consistent service of over six and a half decades, RSS contribution to the dissemination of factual and trustworthy news is laudable{“, the Head of the State shared.
The role of journalism sector and mass media is spectacular in the modern era of information technology and globalization, he said, stressing that the media should be further responsible, accountable and sensible to overcome the challenges of possible spread of misinformation and disinformation with the emergence of new platforms in information dissemination.
“The duty of the mass media very indeed is to unleash truth and disseminate factual information. Today’s need is to serve for the people’s welfare and overall development of the country as well as for consolidating the democratic republic governance system through the dissemination of authentic, credible and truthful news adhering the principles, values and ethics of journalism”, the message reads.
He expressed the confidence that the media such as RSS could further discharge the pivotal role in making the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) elections a grand success. “This is an important milestone to take the country ahead to the path of development by giving way out of the current stalemate. I wish for the further progress of the RSS on the occasion of its 65th anniversary “, he noted.
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30 – Open Q&A with NC President Thapa on election manifesto
Patan (Lalitpur), Feb 18: Nepali Congress is going to hold an open Question and Answer session about the election manifesto made public by the party today.Party President Gagan Kumar Thapa will hold an open Q&A while sharing details about the manifesto made public in Janakpur.
Spokesperson Devraj Chalise shared that President Thapa is scheduled to take questions from those interested in the country and abroad about the manifesto at the ‘Our Pledge – Your Questions’ program to be held at the City Hall in Kathmandu from 1:00 pm on Thursday.
Spokesperson Chalise informed that arrangements are being made to pose questions directly from all over the world using technology and the President will respond to them in person. Arrangements have been made to take questions from participants at the City Hall building, the venue of the event. —
