Shamsuddin Ahmed
The seeds of political discord are sown in Nepal for ensuring Indian domination. Formation of a unity government and reaching consensus in writing the constitution by the second constituent assembly for the new republic remain an illusion. It took about three months after the election to choose Sushil Koirala of Nepali Congress as Prime Minister. He was elected party’s parliamentary leader in a contest held on January 26.
With 196 seats in the freshly elected CA/parliament, the Nepali Congress (NC) is the largest party followed by UNL (United Marxist Leninist) with 175 seats and Unified Communist Party (UCPN-Maoists) with 80 seats.
Koirala defeated Sher Bahadur Deuba, party’s vice-president, who was favoured and quietly prodded by Delhi to challenge Koirala. Deuba alleged that President Ram Baran Yadav, also a Congress leader, took the lead in ensuring his defeat. Yadav campaigned for Koirala. Some party MPs of Deuba camp were abetted with promise of lucrative posts. How could India be sidelined in Nepali politics? Retaliation expected, viewed political analysts in Kathmandu.
Divisive politics
It seems intriguing that Ram Baran Yadav who has opposed Delhi favoured candidate for prime minister Deuba is seeking for continuation as President. He is scheduled to leave for India on February 5 for seeking blessings of Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh. Yadav is also known as Delhi’s man and was made president in 2008 despite opposition by the UCPN (Maoist) that had swept the election and assumed power in the last elections.
After assuming power Sushil Koirala said that seeking unity and formation of an all party government will be his priority towards resolving the long running, hot-button issues towards ensuring political stability. The country is bedeviled by disunity among the political parties and lack of consensus on major issues including writing of constitution and federal or unitary government. The first constituent assembly elected in 2008 for a two-year term failed to write the constitution even after its tenure had been extended to four years. The challenges before the second constituent assembly seem more acute. UML, the second largest party in the CA, is deadly opposed to continuation of Ram Baran Yadav as President. UML said the new CA does not recognize the old president made by the CA elected in 2008. The nation needs to have a new president. On major issues, UML is for federal system; federal units based on ethnicity. The new Prime Minister Sushil Koirala is against federalism. He viewed that federalism in a country like Nepal is not a suitable option. Surely, such an order may disintegrate the nation. Incidentally, federalism in Nepal is favoured by India. Delhi suggested the political parties to adopt federalism in the constitution. But northern neighbour China has repeatedly cautioned that federalism in Nepal would soon disintegrate the country.
Consensus is a far cry
The UCPN (Maoist) that swept the 2008 election but reduced to the third position in the current CA (thanks to the machination of Delhi) refused to join the government. The UCPN stand would frustrate Sushil Koirala who has been endeavouring for a unity government to reach consensus on hot-button issues. It is widely believed that UNCP has been cut to size by Delhi for its anti-Indian posture during the initial period of its government after the 2008 election.
The party was divided with senior leader Baidya, a hardcore communist, deserting the party with his followers. Baidya has formed a separate party, Napal Communist Party (NCP-Maoist).
NCP, believed closer to Beijing, boycotted the second CA election. Chinese leaders have reportedly been advising the communist parties of Nepal to be united and strengthen the party.
Unity and consensus among the major political parties in Nepal is a far cry. The seeds of discord sown by Delhi in political arena will ensure its domination over the country’s politics and economy.
Source: UNBConnect
