NEPAL: Maoists Decide Against “No Trust” Motion: Update No. 221

NEPAL: Maoists Decide Against “No Trust” Motion: Update No. 221

By Dr. S.Chandrasekharan.

Having failed to muster enough public opinion or support from other parties to topple the Madhav Nepal Government in the four phases of their agitation, the last one being directed against India, the Maoists had planned to move a “no confidence motion” against the ruling coalition.

In the house of 598, the Maoists will have to get a simple majority of those present to remove the Prime minister according to the fifth amendment of the interim constitution. The distribution of the seats amongst the parties is

1. UCPN (M) 238
2. Nepali Congress 113
3. UML 109
4. MJF Yadav 25
5. MJF D of Gachhadar 27
6. TMDP 21
7. Sadhbhavana 9
8. RPP 8
9. RJP 3
10.NW PP 5
11.CPN ML 9
12.CPN United 5
13. Others 22

The calculations of the Maoists that it would be easy to come to a deal with the Nepali Congress after the demise of the senior leader G.P Koirala came to naught as the triumvirate of the current Nepali Congress leadership continued to insist on 4 demands- namely 1. Renunciation of violence. , 2. Return of the seized properties., 3. Manage the combatants and more importantly 4. Disband the para military structure of the YCL.

Separately the Maoists were said to have approached some disgruntled elements of the UML, mainly a few led by Bam Dev Gautam.

Prime Minister Madhav Nepal anticipating the move of the Maoists had separately contacted the fringe parties who collectively make a considerable number and ensured that they supported the government.

One lone member of NSP Anandi faction, Sarita Giri had withdrawn her support to the government but there was no guarantee that she would support a no confidence move against the government.

Thus the Maoists were left only with the support of the MJF faction of Upendra Yadav and a few other individuals.

It was in these circumstances that the politburo of the Maoists met on 15th and 16th April to consider the party’s strategy of moving a no confidence motion against the government .

In the meeting Prachanda blamed the government for its failure to take the peace process to a logical end and said that the government is not capable of drafting a new constitution in time. Barshaman Pun wanted the party to take the initiative to form a national unity government under the party’s leadership or press the government to step down through a people’s movement.

Barsha Man Pun (Anantha) made another demand outside the politburo meeting that all combatants verified to be so by the UNMIN should be integrated into some security organisation or other if not in the Nepal Army itself. This was probably against the “ package” proposal of Prime Minister Madhav Nepal.

After two days of intense deliberations, the politburo of the party UCPN - M ( Maoists) decided to shelve the idea of tabling a no confidence motion as in their words they feared “horse trading.” The fact of the matter is that the Maoists were not confident of getting the desired number to bring down the present government.

If the motion was to fail as it would, it would have, it will be a loss of face not only for the party, but also a personal debacle for Prachanda’s leadership itself. It was a wise decision.

The party has therefore decided to continue with their agitation and the next one is to start on 22nd April. The party has also not given up the idea of talking with other political parties for ending the political deadlock.

Separately on 17th, Prachanda reiterated his party’s stand that his party will not allow the term of present constituent assembly to be extended so long as Madhav Nepal Government is in office. If he continues with this stand, there will be no alternative for the President but to declare fresh elections to the assembly again after May 28.