Election Fallout: Clueless After the Crashing Announcement
A week after the Election Commission (EC) announced its inability to hold constituent assembly polls in June, the eight party leaders continue to wobble around the political fiasco unable to reach any decision towards fixing a new date and address the constitutional obstacle created by the likely postponement of the polls.
Much expected discussion on Sunday ended inconclusively after parties were divided over the common measure to address the new political situation. This is one of many instances that point at the lack of seriousness and dexterity of leadership – so crucial in this critical period.
On Sunday, and then after, leaders have been saying that there are much home works to be done behind the curtains before they can give out a solution.
Internal Home-works
Still, the parties have not sat for serious internal discussions to guide the nation out of this uncertain period.
The UML concluded its standing committee meeting on Saturday where it pinned the blame of polls failure on prime minister and the Nepali Congress, who has led the government since the restoration of democracy last year. Senior UML leader Jhala Nath Khanal informed that they have asked Koirala to shoulder the blame.
Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan, whom Koirala denied second position in the interim cabinet, also reproached Koirala for this new political catastrophe. Few other ministers queued up behind her to cirticise the leadership of Koirala.
The Maoists also held a series of debate within the party for days to discuss the new circumstances. The first open central committee meeting of the party, concluded just before the planned eight party meet, reached to a conclusion that they might have to launch third phase of Jana Andolan for establishing democratic republic.
Nepali Congress and Nepali Congress Democratic have not shown any signs of holding party meetings to discuss the unfolding political circumstances.
The NC-D president Sher Bahadur Deuba, in fact, welcomed the announcement by the EC. Deuba said his party welcomes the timely decision of the EC. During the meeting of the top brass of the eight parties with the EC two weeks back, Deuba had raised questions on credibility of elections that will be held without first improving the security situation in the country.
Pressure for Republic
Nepali Congress remains the final pillar of hope for the monarchy. Splinter NC-D is much ahead in support for a republic though its stand on the issue has been diluted with the emergence of merger plans with the NC. Even though, NC faces pressures from a section of its leaders that the party must support republic Nepal, until now, the party has not clarified its stand whether to adopt republic or go for ceremonial monarchy.
Last month, PM Koirala in Biratnagar suggested King Gyanendra and Crown Prince Paras to step down. Many claimed Koirala’s statement was in favour of republic while others said he wants NavaYubaraj Hridayendra to be enthroned for continuing with the ceremonial monarchy.
The UML, on the other hand, has proposed referendum to decide the future of monarchy before June 20 if the constituent assembly polls are not viable on that time. Maoists, while campaigning that the interim parliament has the authority to declare republic, also have lent a support to the UML proposal. And in turn, UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said his party also supports the idea of outright announcement of republic by the parliament – the major Maoist demand. The two leaders are scratching each other’s back.
Since their meeting was adjourned on Sunday, Maoist supremo Prachanda has repeatedly called for declaration of republic through the parliament to which Prime Minister Koirala has made no comment. On Wednesday morning, the cabinet meeting was suspended abruptly until another notification when Koirala again refuted to accept the Maoist proposal in the cabinet. Earlier, Prachanda and Dr Baburam Bhattarai gave a pep-talk to their ministers regarding roles they have to play to use thier ministerial portfolios towards establishment of republic Nepal.
On the eve of forming the interim government, the eight parties had agreed for the amendment of the interim constitution with provisions to remove the King by two-third majority of the interim house if the latter finds that the King is acting against the elections. Though, this has not come in written form, deferral of the constituent assembly now has given opportunity for the left parties to pressurise NC to go for republic.
Interestingly, in a recent interview with BBC Nepali Service, astrologers said the time would turn in favour of King Gyanendra after July. The astrologers said monarchy would not be removed from Nepal at any cost after July. One can even suspect if this has been one of the factors prompting the Maoists to hurry to declare republic Nepal.
Questions on Koirala’s Leadership
Jana Morcha lawmaker Lilamani Pokharel during the Sunday’s session of the parliament said deferral of the CA polls means failure of Koirala. Koirala, while taking oath at the parliament on April 1, had expressed commitment to hold the elections on time and promised to resign if he could not do so. Recalling the statement made by Koirala, Pokharel said he now remains with no option than to resign and open a new way out for the resolution of the crisis.
In the past Koirala had repeatedly expressed commitments to hold elections on scheduled time. In line with his stand, EC for several times, asked government and the parliament to formulate legal instruments soon. Almost four months have passed since EC had started asking to finalise these instruments and two of them still remain to be enacted.
Other leaders just followed what Koirala said – that polls are viable in June – but their activities did not help in the creation of proper environment for the task. The leaders were hopeful of holding the polls when Koirala said the polls would be held ‘abnormally’ in ‘abnormal circumstance’. The final punch from the EC came at a time when Koirala had become active in CA polls preparation: from seeking Indian support to addressing mass meetings as part of the NC’s election campaigns nationwide.
Question lingers around if he would stick to his stand that he would resign if he is unable to hold the elections.
Conclusion
Yet, the eight parties have not reached the conclusion that their basis of unity has ended. Koirala on Monday urged Prachanda to strengthen the relations among the eight parties to face upcoming challenges and Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula made efforts on Tuesday to pacify the Maoist leaders.
To prove they are much serious towards future of the nation and keep the promises made to the people, the parties must rise above partisan interests and sit together to find solution. The unity they built during the movement against direct rule of the King must remain intact if they want to overcome the difficult transitional period and deliver the promise of new Nepal.
Published in Nepalnews.com