Excerpts:
Myrepublica.com: Why did you choose to resign today?
PM Madhav Kumar Nepal: I wanted to resign long ago. Actually, I thought of resigning three months before May 28, 2010 so that we could reach a consensus to write the constitution and conclude the peace process. But I didn´t do that because the Maoists threatened to overthrow my government and capture the state through a movement. If I, the 33rd prime minister of Nepal, had resigned under pressure I would have gone down in history as a cowardly prime minister. That wasn´t a legacy I wanted to leave behind. Once the Maoists threatened an urban uprising and state capture, I resolved that I would face them and defeat them. Many of my colleagues feared the consequences of the Maoist general strike but I was convinced that it wasn´t going to last too long. Eventually, the Maoists were forced to withdraw their indefinite general strike. [break]
Then I thought of resigning on May 28, the day the Constituent Assembly´s life would come to an end, unless extended. But again the Maoists made my resignation a precondition for extension of the CA term. That wasn´t acceptable to me. I was determined not to resign under Maoist pressure. If they wanted to remove me unceremoniously, the only way to do so was to table a no trust motion in parliament with a legitimate case against me.
After the midnight deal of May 28, I told the parties that I wanted to resign within five days and asked them to reach an agreement on all the contentious issues and decide the leadership of the next government. But they failed to do so. Then I told the NC and UML leaders to find my replacement and set June 15 as the deadline for my resignation. And I prepared my resignation letter that morning [June 15]. But the leaders failed to take any decision and kept on requesting me to continue in office. I then set June 18 as another deadline and then deferred it again to June 23. But each time the leaders from the ruling coalition urged me to stay put and said there was no need to resign in a hurry. It was getting a little irritating. Since I had decided to quit, they was no point clinging to the chair and I wanted to step down sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile on June 27, I received information from an interlocutor that Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had become flexible on most of the issues, including PLA rehabilitation and integration. My interlocutor also claimed that a deal with the Maoists was within reach. That very evening I met Dahal over dinner and held a long conversation with him. Unfortunately, Dahal wasn´t ready for compromise and was still making demands unacceptable to us. For instance, on the PLA issue, he proposed that 7,000 troops each be taken from the PLA, the Nepal Army and the Armed Police Force to form a separate security force. It was a strategy to draw away 14,000 personnel from the army and police in return for offering to integrate just 7,000 from the PLA and to convert the entire 21,000 into a force loyal to the Maoist party. I told Dahal that I could see through his intention and rejected the offer to his face. I also didn´t see any indication that Dahal was willing to convert his party into a civilian one.
After that dinner-meeting, I decided that I would call the budget session of the House and then resign. On June 28, I told senior NC and UML leaders that I was summoning the budget session and had made up my mind to resign any time soon. I even told them that I wasn´t going to inform them before my resignation since there was no point doing so, as they would as always ask me to stay put for a little longer. Finally, this morning I told my close aides that I was resigning and informed the others later.
Myrepublica.com: Do you think the formation of another government is possible before the budget session of parliament begins within a week?
PM Nepal: I hope there is a new government by then but can´t say if there will in fact be one.
Myrepublica.com: In case there is no new government, is your government going to table the program and policy and the budget for the next fiscal year.
PM Nepal: No it won´t. There is no point in doing so. What my government will do in that situation is simply present a vote on account bill for the next four months.
Myrepublica.com: Do you think a national consensus government led by the Maoists is possible now?
PM Nepal: A national consensus government is the best alternative but it seems unlikely. And the Maoists should not be allowed to lead such a government so long as they have their paramilitary and military organizations with them.
Myrepublica.com: Why not if the Maoists come up with a credible plan and win the confidence of other political parties?
PM Nepal: It´s not logical and reasonable. I don´t think it´s possible for the Maoists to do so in the next one week. In that case another majority-based government seems likely.
Myrepublica.com: Do you think such a government will be able to conclude the peace process and write the constitution?
PM Nepal: I think yes, provided the Maoists play the role of a responsible opposition. And Maoist Vice-chairman Mohan Vaidya assured me, during my one-to-one meeting with him, that in case the Maoists don´t get a chance to lead the government they will stay in opposition and play a constructive role.
Myrepublica.com: What is the most memorable event/moment of your stint at Baluwatar?
PM Nepal: At one point, one political party was bent on capturing the state through force and there were many who feared the consequences. But I was determined to face up to it, fully aware that history would judge me harshly if I didn´t make a stand and lost my ground. Eventually, my conviction prevailed. Looking back, that gives me enormous satisfaction.
Myrepublica.com: How do you feel today?
PM Nepal: I feel much relieved. I am not resigning under pressure. Actually, I am resigning when I still command a majority in parliament and I also enjoy significant support from the international community and a large section of civil society. I am resigning under my choice, on my terms.
Myrepublica.com: But you didn´t have full support from your party to remain in charge. Actually, you never had such support. How does that feel?
PM Nepal: I had the support of large section of my party and that also gave me inspiration. But it´s true I didn´t get support from a section of the party´s main leadership. May be it´s because of jealously; may be because of narrow-mindedness; may be it´s because of lack of farsightedness.
Myrepublica.com: Should people write you off politically?
PM Nepal: I am not retiring from politics. I may take a rest for some time but then I will become active again and serve this county and my party in whatever way possible.
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