Kathmandu, Feb. 10 -- Political leaders engaged in a wide-ranging debate on policy, leadership and the state of Nepal's democracy during the concluding session of the Kantipur Conclave 2026 on Tuesday.

The final session, titled 'Policy, Politicians and Leadership,' moderated by Kantipur Daily editor-in-chief Umesh Chauhan, had Nepali Congress general secretary Pradip Paudel, CPN-UML deputy general secretary Yogesh Bhattarai and former education minister Sumana Shrestha as the panelists.

Speaking at the session, Shrestha questioned the entrenched belief that once individuals enter politics, they must remain in it for life. She warned that such thinking encourages politicians to cling to power at any cost.

Shrestha also argued that Nepal...