Politicians, experts and noted national as well as international personalities from various sectors deliberated on the prospects and challenges of democracy and possible solutions at the Kantipur Conclave in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

Speakers ranging from the chief justice, former prime ministers, former ministers, senior journalists, subject experts to young professionals, participated in the fourth edition of Kantipur Conclave that kicked off at Hyatt Regency in Kathmandu on Wednesday, the first day of the two-day event.

Most of the speakers were of the view that democratic systems across the country were facing various challenges but there is no alternative to further strengthening democracy.

On Wednesday, the first day of the conclave, discussions covered six topics: ‘Democracy at a crossroads,’ ‘Policy and prosperity,’ ‘The wave of populism,’ ‘Social media: A double-edged sword,’ ‘Pen and power: Three decades of Nepali democracy and journalism,’ and ‘Path of Prachanda: Street or state?’

CPN (Maoist Centre) chair and former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda speaking during the session titled ‘Path of Prachanda: Street or state?’ said that the alternative of democracy is stronger democracy and that autocracy and anarchy cannot be accepted.

“In a democratic system, questions are always raised over its performance,” Dahal said. “It is true that Nepal’s democracy has failed to deliver as per the people’s needs and aspirations but there is no alternative to democracy.”

Delivering his opening remarks, Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut underscored the judiciary as the foundation of democracy, stating that reforms require leadership guided by purity, integrity, and commitment.

He asserted that judicial independence must remain intact, and any compromise or interference with judicial dignity is unacceptable.

Raut stressed that reforms within the judiciary, like those in other sectors, are essential to counter growing public disillusionment.

“Reforms in the judiciary are also imperative,” he said. “It is only through these reforms that we can overcome public discontent.”

The chief justice also called for reforms in the media, questioning whether journalism had misused its influence, and urged that its power be used wisely and in a timely manner.

Raut said that the judiciary’s independence is crucial to democracy, noting that democracy’s strength lies in its ability to convey consensus and embrace even serious disagreements and differences of opinion.

Nobel Peace laureate Kailash Satyarthi highlighted the erosion of public trust in governance due to issues like corruption, lack of transparency, accountability, advancing majoritarianism, and polarisation.

He expressed concern over the politicisation and compromise of democratic pillars such as the judiciary and media, stating that when these institutions serve political interests rather than justice, public confidence in democracy is undermined.

Satyarthi noted that, as a result, people are beginning to question the value of democracy itself.

Satyarthi warned that powerful groups are abusing social media to create a flood of false information, which confuses the public and drives societal division. “The abuse of social media fuels hatred and revenge. It is contributing to an unprecedented level of global fragmentation not seen in decades.”

He said that the failure of state institutions to ensure social justice is also contributing to the weakening of democracy. “If people do not feel secure in their future or confident in equal opportunities in society, they lose faith in democracy,” he said.

Yuba Raj Khatiwada, economic and development advisor to the prime minister, and industrialist and lawmaker Binod Chaudhary discussed issues concerning the economic sector in a session titled ‘Policy and prosperity’.

Khatiwada, who is also former finance minister and central bank governor, shared that radical political shifts witnessed in the past over three decades have not been matched by supportive economic policies. “We introduced political changes swiftly, yet economic growth has not succeeded in gathering the same pace,” he remarked. “Institutional changes took time, and policies could not fully capture the intentions behind political transformations.”

Khatiwada also addressed the complex task of federalism implementation as one of the major challenges arising from political transformation. “Federalism has not even reached a decade of implementation. We must understand it’s not a system that yields results overnight,” he said.

Chaudhary shared his views on the challenges faced by the private sector. Nepali Congress lawmaker Chaudhary argued that despite operating within legal boundaries, the private sector faces undue criticism.

Delivering a welcome speech at the event, KMG Chairman Kailash Sirohiya said the conclave would unite leaders, visionaries, and changemakers from Nepal and across the globe.

“It is a space for transformative dialogue where innovative ideas are exchanged and turned into actionable solutions. We focus on innovation governance and the future of democracy, and we are committed to fostering an environment where meaningful discussion can inspire political changes,” he said.

Four former editors of Kantipur daily discussed the issues surrounding the evolution of Nepali journalism mainly after the reinstatement of democracy in 1990 under the session titled “Pen and power: Three decades of Nepali democracy and journalism.”

Panellists reflected on both the progress and challenges faced by journalism, emphasising that while democracy and media complement each other, media needs to adapt to remain relevant.

Yogesh Upadhyaya, founding editor of Kantipur Daily and The Kathmandu Post said, “Those in power, whether the monarchy or government, never truly welcome the media—they keep us at a distance”.

Yubaraj Ghimire, former editor of Kantipur Daily and The Kathmandu Post, stressed the importance of looking into areas where the media has failed because there are times the media have succumbed. “We are not anti-state or anti-government; our role is to hold those in power accountable.”

Narayan Wagle, highlighted the importance of investigative journalism in today’s noisy information landscape. “Today, there’s too much news based on noise, which is not information. Media needs to be more responsible and focus on in-depth stories,” he said.

Sudheer Sharma, also a former editor-in-chief of Kantipur, pointed out the need for self-reflection as people increasingly turn to social media for news, urging traditional media to adapt with technology. “If Artificial Intelligence is understood and used appropriately, it can be beneficial,” he said, adding, “Demographic change has brought a new generation with different expectations; we’re competing globally, and we need to align with that standard.”

The session ended with a message that democracy and journalism must transform together, embracing technology and accountability, to remain resilient in the years ahead.

On Thursday, the second day, sessions will include ‘Electoral reform: Policy or practice?’, ‘Geopolitical turbulence,’ ‘Women champions from the field,’ ‘Prosperity beyond borders,’ ‘Key concerns of chief ministers, ’ and ‘In conversation with the prime minister.’