NEPAL: Post Election: Should Non Maoist Parties Join the Government? Update No. 159

NEPAL: Post Election: Should Non Maoist Parties Join the Government? Update No. 159

by Dr. S. Chandrasekharan

Having been routed in the recent Constituent Assembly Elections, the two mainstream parties- the Nepali Congress and the UML are debating among themselves whether to form part of the new interim government that is to be formed or remain outside and let the Maoists run the government. Both the parties held their central committee meetings and most of the members of both the parties have generally opined that it is better to stay outside.

Being the largest party amongst those elected, the Maoists have staked their claims to lead the government.

The ongoing central committee meeting of the UML appears to have finally taken a decision not to join the government. Their ministers had already submitted their resignations to Prime minister G.P. Koirala. The political report of the acting General Secretary Amrit Bohara said that the most important task of the party is to engage in making a democratic republican constitution and bring the peace process to a logical end. The question then is, whether these objectives can be met by staying out of the government? In the interim constitution there is nothing like a ruling party or the opposition party as all decisions are to be taken by consensus or by two thirds majority. Therefore staying out of the government or supporting the government from outside has no relevance in the present context. For the party itself, the immediate need is to restructure itself, find ways and means to retain their identity, go back to the grass roots and not let the Maoists overwhelm them at the village and district levels.

The trend in the Nepali Congress circles is also not to join the government, but the final decision in the case of this party is with G.P.Koirala. The Nepali Congress has unofficially put forth certain conditions on the Maoists and these conditions are unlikely to be met. These include- dissolution of its para military structure, surrender or destruction of arms held by them, handing over the seized property, dissolve the people’s courts and the people’s government and the violent activities of YCL. On the last issue of violent activities of the YCL, Prachanda has promised many times over that their violent activities will be curbed but nothing has been and will be done. The Maoists have by now realised that it is a “ magic instrument” ( is the fourth one besides the CP, the PLA and the organ of the revolutionary United Front- See Worker of July 2007) to attain their objectives and have already declared that they will not disband the YCL.

It was interesting to see the central committee members freely discussing the shortcomings of the party and the reasons for their rout in the CA elections. Typical were the points made by Arjun Narsingh KC who normally keeps a low profile and does not criticise the party leaders or the activities of the party. The points he made in the central committee show how disappointed he and senior people like him were with the party. It was to my mind an outright indictment of the party leadership. He said

The point is that the party went for the CA elections without making any preparations and in conditions then were not conducive for a free and fair election.

The UN Mission is set to cease its operations from July 22 of this year. Their most important task is supposed to be the monitoring of the arms and armed personnel of both the Nepalese Army and the PLA. The present indications are that the UN mandate may not be extended and the question of the integration of the PLA and the disposal of the arms will have to be decided by then. This is not going to be easy also. Some observers have already pointed out that Prachanda when he becomes the Prime minister cannot head the government and the PLA!

The constitutional assembly elections were held to elect a representative and an all inclusive group to frame a new constitution that would reflect the people’s aspirations. The mandate if one may call it is for all the parties who have been elected to expedite the constitution making process. It does not matter whether the parties form part of the government or remain outside so long as the principle of “consensus” is followed in framing the provisions of the new constitution. The two main parties both the NC and the UML have sizeable number together in the constituent assembly and if they work united perhaps, they could prevent the Maoists from going ahead with their agenda.

It looks that the Maoists may finally agree to an amendment in the interim constitution for a simple majority for decisions relating to the appointment and removal of Prime Minister. On 11^th May Prachanda and Bhattarai discussed with the MJF, TMDP and the NSP (A) who together have 72 seats. Of these, the MJF appears to be inclined to join the new government. Upendra Yadav of MJF has insisted on three conditions in joining the government namely-Autonomy for Madhesh, ending discrimination against Terains and proportional representation in all State organs.

Perhaps a deal is possible with the Madhesi groups to ensure a simple majority for the Maoists to head the government and deal with the day to day issues relating to governance.