Suspension of polls and the blame game
The initial days after the restoration of democracy had stunned the world community with the hold political parties had in the society and their collaboration for establishment of permanent peace in a country torn by a decade long insurgency.
However, with the passage of time, growing mistrust and misunderstanding among the parties have changed the course of national politics opposite to what Nepali people and the international community had expected from the alliance of seven parties and the Maoists. They have not been able to hold elections on the stipulated date (it has already been postponed twice) while the Maoists openly flout the agreements signed in the past thus leading the country to grave instability and uncertainty.
While various leaders and experts have warned against possible complications if the transitional period is lengthened, the parties have continued to play with their own interests. Earlier, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala had said his relevance in Nepal’s politics would remain until the constituent assembly elections. Now after the suspension of the polls, the other parties have started debate over Koirala’s alternative.
After the second suspension of the constituent assembly polls, the seven party alliance faces bigger challenge to manage transitional period and keep the peace process on track.
Meanwhile, the parties have (NOT) been able to justify the suspension of the polls. Critics say that June, when the polls were planned initially, was unfavourable for the Nepali Congress while November would not be gainful for the Maoists. These two top players of national politics have their own logic but suspending the polls just because they feel circumstances are not favourable only erodes their credibility. No doubt, suspension of CA polls has become the single most unpopular move of the seven parties.
Sheer differences between the two major parties – NC and CPN (Maoist) – led to the deferral of the polls. The UML and other parties protested the proposal of the two parties and even threatened to go for street protests if parties failed to agree on seeking alternative to PM Koirala. But so far, UML’s say in the major political decisions made to date has been miniscule. The NC and the Maoists have made the final decision makers.
Maoists have always talked of “palace conspiracy” against the CA polls. Lately, the King’s sudden visit to ‘Kumari Ghar’ at Basantapur infuriated PM Koirala, too. In response, Koirala ordered the slashing of palace security.
Senior minister of the cabinet Ram Chandra Poudel (File Photo)
Now, some leaders blame on monarchy. Senior minister of the cabinet Ram Chandra Poudel, a vice president of Nepali Congress who proposed for federal democratic republic in the recently concluded Mahasamiti meeting of his party, on Saturday said palace conspired against holding the constituent assembly polls.
His argument was that two-and-half-century-old monarchy would go to any extent to foil the polls that are surely going to bring this institution to an end. Saying that the palace is mobilising its supports to bring instability in the country, he claimed that a number of groups currently agitating for one cause or the other are actually sanctioned by the palace.
Human rights activist Krishna Pahadi also shares this argument. “Until the monarchy exists in the country, constituent assembly polls would be impossible.” Stating that September 2 blasts in Kathmandu were the doings of pro-monarchy elements, Pahadi says the earliest the monarchy abolished the better.
The Maoists have long been saying this. In most of their statements Maoist chairman Prachanda and his deputy Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai have said king is conspiring against the polls.
The cloud of uncertainty will continue to shroud the Nepali politics until the special session of the parliament beginning Oct 11 takes a concrete decision, which, however, will not come easily. While the Maoists have mounted pressure on other parties to announce republic from the house the UML and the NC seem against this idea. However, given the way Koirala keeps changing his stand, it will be premature to imagine what stand he will take when the Maoists table the proposal for republic in the special session.
Published in Nepalnews.com