Home >> South Asia >> India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal

     Email   Print 

Question of Forming a Consensus Government in Nepal

Prakash Bom - 12/5/2011

NC and UML leaders have to see clearly with their physical eyes that the peace process has not yet completed. The forming of a consensus government becomes only viable when the major provisos of the seven-point agreement, such as combatant integration, rehabilitation, relief conflict victims, dissolution of the YCL parliamentary structure, and return of the seized properties are completed.



The processes cannot be completed just by demanding the formation of a consensus government and resignation of the Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai in order to dissolve the Maoist-Madhesi collision government. In fact, there are many complications yet to come upon implementing seven-point agreement. To settle all the conflicts for enduring peace, the agreement has to be followed by the systematic procedures that are just and fair.



For example, the provision of return of the seized properties (particularly the farming lands), that have been occupied and sustained by the families of the Maoist carders for over ten years cannot be easily recovered without the rearrangement for their livelihood. This means a systematic procedure must be established under the land-reform policy of the government.


The process can be initiated to begin with the lands that have been seized from the landlords by the landless farmers on the basis of sharing the farming. However, the landless farmers who have tilled the land without the ownership in Nepali farming tradition ought to be compensated as per the land-reform policy of the government. It has to be fair and just processes for the sake of landless farmers who have been rarely granted as bona-fide farmers for the ownership of the land that they have cultivated for generations.



The obligation to implement seven-point agreement thus is not only of the UCPN Maoist party despite hard-liners’ opposition to Bhattarai-Dahal leadership. But, all the parties that signed seven-point agreement are responsible to help setting up procedures for implementation. It is naïve to think that seven-point agreement has accomplished the peace process without implementing them.



There are many provisions in the seven-point agreement that need thorough procedures which might need Bhattarai-Dahal leadership intact in the UCPN-Maoist party. By all means, the peace process cannot be accomplished without the leadership of the Maoist party particularly of Dr. Bhattarai and Mr. Dahal. The International community has hope in their leadership. Specially, India has been re-building reliance with Nepal through Dr. Bhattarai’s premiership.



Both UML and the hardliner in the UCPN-Maoist party are demanding resignation of Dr. Bhattarai. But, the resignation of Dr. Bhattarai from the premiership will jeopardize the peace and constitution drafting processes. This is how the hardliner Maoists want to instigate their revolt. And, if other main parties like UML and NC want to help hardliner Maoists with their cards of dirty politics then they will be responsible for the consequences even though NC and UML desire just the premiership and Maoist hardliners don’t.


In my opinion, there is no other political party viable than the UCPN-Maoist party under Dr. Baburam Bhattarai’s premiership to complete the peace and constitution drafting processes. NC and UML do not have such leadership capable of uplifting the nation out of the current political crises. The challenge that the nation has confronted now is how to draft a new constitution that establishes a fully functioning federal democratic system of government.


For example, the formation of members of the State Restructuring Commission with the expertise in federalism, and who have respect for the multi-ethnic, multi-cultural diverse geography of Nepal to establish solidarity of Nepali-nationhood is a must. If the restructuring fails to institute federalism with the national solidarity due to the vested political interest of certain political party and ethnic group, it will be unfortunate.


Similarly, extension of the tenure of the Constituent Assembly is a must at this juncture of peace and constitution drafting processes. Otherwise, it will create a constitution crisis and political volatility. What role NC and UML can play at this point is to protect the nation from falling into the constitution crisis and political disaster. If NC and UML can play this role most responsibly then people will trust them in the future. But both parties have lost their credential to form a consensus government under their leadership. Both the international community and people of Nepal have no hope in them.


So, it is the new Maoist leadership under Dr. Bhattarai’s premiership the consensus government is anticipated to be formed by the people of Nepal and the international community. NC and UML should participate in the unity government to take the responsibility with the most sensible portfolio of the cabinet. But if the new Maoist leadership is vetoed to lead the consensus government the complications will multiply in the politics for drafting a new constitution due to the intra-party conflict in the Maoist party. The challenge that established Maoist party is facing is how to melt-down the Maoist hardliner into the main stream politics.


If NC and UML genuinely wish the Maoists to join the mainstream politics fully in Democracy then let them lead the consensus government by participating in the formation to take responsibility of the most sensible portfolio of the cabinet. Be smart as you have been with the seven-point agreement for the peace process. Stop the party leaders craving for the post of Prime Minister at this point. All the senior leaders will have chance to become the Prime Minister of Nepal in the future once the new constitution is successfully drafted.



On the other hand, if the Maoist leaders find NC’s claim to lead unity government reasonable and justifiable then let NC lead the unity government after the peace process is completed. However, NC should give the chance to one of those leaders in the party, who dedicated his or her entire life for the nation, Democracy and party, and has not yet had chance to become the Prime minister of Nepal.