The souring relations between Uprety, the UCPN (Maoist) as well as Madhesh-based parties was manifested yet again on Wednesday after the UCPN (Maoist) accused him of making political statements. During the High Level Political Committee (HLPC) meeting held on Wednesday, the UCPN (Maoist) leadership even proposed seeking clarification from Uprety over his remarks. [break]
Uprety has long been saying that the political parties should arrive at a consensus in order to create favorable environment for holding the Constituent Assembly (CA) polls on the stipulated date of November 19. He has been maintaining that further delay in bringing the agitating parties onboard the election process could dim the prospect of holding the polls.
But can Uprety´s remarks solely be attributed for the widening rift between him, the UCPN (Maoist) and the Madhes-based parties? Definitely not. Several things have gone against the wishes of UCPN (Maoist) and the Madhes based parties to sour the relationship.
The differences between the Maoist-Madheshi alliance and CEC Uprety began in earnest when the Election Commission (EC) proposed eligibility threshold for seats under the proportional representation electoral system. They were dissatisfied when the EC, in the draft ordinance on amending the Election of Members of the Constituent Assembly Act, 2013, proposed that a political party must secure one percent of the total valid votes cast in the election to be eligible for seats under proportional quota in the CA.
Earlier, the constitutional body had proposed a threshold of 1.5 percent but it reduced the threshold to one percent following strong objections from the UCPN (Maoist) and Madhes-based political parties, among others.
The alliance of Maoist-Madhes-based parties, the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML appeared clearly divided on the threshold proposal.
While UML maintained that the threshold provision could encourage various fringe political parties to unify for the polls, NC leaders argued that the threshold provision would make the representation more inclusive. But leaders of the UCPN (Maoist) and Madhes-based political parties, among other fringe parties, maintained that the threshold provision was not necessary as CA polls are not like general elections, which are held on a regular basis.
The difference between Uprety and the alliance of Maoist-Madhes-based parties grew also due to the EC proposal to bar persons convicted of criminal offenses or other offences involving moral turpitude, from filing candidacy for CA election.
EC in its proposal maintained that a person convicted of any crime including murder, theft, robbery, misappropriation of foreign currency, kidnap, rape, corruption, human trafficking, money laundering, banking irregularities, passport misuse, drug smuggling, jail break or abetting jail break by others, smuggling of protected wildlife or vegetation or objects of archeological importance, illegal trade and spying, among other illegal activities, or has shown moral turpitude, cannot be a member of any political party if he or she has not completed the sentence handed down by a court or any other legal authority.
Due to opposition from both the UCPN (Maoist) and Madhes-based parties, it took nearly three months for the Interim Election Council of Ministers to finalize election related ordinances. The Interim Election Council of Ministers finally on June 13 forwarded the ordinance on amending the Election of Members of the Constituent Assembly (CA) Act, 2013 to President Ram Baran Yadav for approval after removing the proposed provision on eligibility threshold for seats under the proportional representation electoral system.
Bowing to pressure from these two forces, the Khil Raj Regmi-led poll government had to demonstrate flexibility on the proposed provision on baring candidates with criminal background. The ordinance endorsed by the president only bars candidates, who have been convicted for involvement in certain criminal cases including corruption, rape, murder, passport misuse, money laundering, drug smuggling and human trafficking, or those who have been black-listed.
Another factor that has irked the UCPN (Maoist) is some provisions in the proposed code of conduct for the new CA election.
The three major political parties are divided over the provision on banning the use of expensive means of transportation, including helicopter, for election campaign. While NC and UML are against the use of helicopter, the Maoist has stated that the parties must be allowed to use any means of transportation for election campaign.
Senior Vice-chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D) Rameshwor Raya Yadav said they wonder if the chief election commissioner was trying to create hurdles. “It is a baseless allegation that political parties were not supportive in creating conducive environment for the polls,” he claimed.
Among other things, the UCPN (Maoist) and Madhesi parties have also accused Uprety of having a role in the transfer of former Secretary at the EC Narayan Gopal Malego.
Former Chief Election Commissioner Surya Prasad Shrestha said differences between the chief election commissioner and the political parties do not augur well for the CA polls. “Both sides must respect each other´s jurisdiction,” said Shrestha. “If they (EC and political parties) get involved into controversies, it will delay the election.”
Shrestha maintained that the political parties should not take Uprety´s remarks in a negative light as the latter seem to have made the remarks with an intention to make the election a success. “But it is not necessary for EC to repeatedly make the same request to the political parties,” added the former election commissioner.
Political Analyst Chandra Kishor maintained that such situation was invited by political parties as they failed to fulfill their own responsibilities. “Even some political parties are involved in inciting EC for their vested interests,” he said. “Dragging EC into controversy will only delay the Constituent Assembly (CA) November 19 election.”
Related story
Political parties are trying to sabotage Election Commission
