We want a Kejriwal, says Nepal media

Nepal newspapers Sunday gave wide coverage to AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal taking charge of Delhi and wondered if their country too needed a similar anti-corruption crusader.

Many newspapers here extensively covered the oath-taking ceremony of Kejriwal at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan -- with photographs.

The event was attended by tens of thousands of people. It was a front-page story in almost all the major dailies - English and the vernacular media.

The largest circulated daily Kantipur described how Kejriwal travelled on Delhi Metro to reach Ramlila Maidan and the promises he made to bring about a new society.
It also had an analytical piece: "Will AAP get birth in Nepal?"

Political leaders and commentators said chances of having an alternative political force like the Aam Aadmi Party were high in Nepal if incumbent political parties failed to deliver.

Some, however, said Nepal needed to wait for such a movement as the current priorities were a new constitution and the ongoing peace process, not elimination of corruption.

Social scientist Chaitanya Mishra said Nepali media was not vibrant like its Indian counterpart.

The Kathmandu Post story read: "Anti-graft champion takes charge in Delhi".
The Himalayan Times and vernacular daily Nagrak also had similar stories on their front pages.

News channels also gave extensive coverage to the Ramlila Maidan ceremony.
Political commentators took to Facebook and Twitter to discuss the rise of the AAP in India.

"The people of Delhi ... have really created a ripple in South Asian politics," Jugal Bhurtel wrote on his Facebook wall.

However, Ujjwal Acharya wondered why there was such a huge coverage of Kejriwal's oath taking ceremony.