UML rift impacting CA

The other day, four members from the CPN-UML demanded that their votes cast in favor of parliament-elected executive prime minister in the Constituent Assembly (CA) committee be nullified. They reasoned that they now wanted to vote as per the “party policy”! On Dec 1, the CA Committee on System of Governance had held a vote on systems of governance and elections from among proposals put forth by the UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC), UML and the Tarai Madhes Democratic Party. At that time, the UML and the NC struck a deal – on quid pro quo basis – to defeat the Maoist proposal. The Maoists are advocating for a directly elected executive president. The deal entailed that the NC would vote in favor of UML-proposed electoral system, which is heavy on proportional representation and the UML’s reciprocal support to NC’s PM-elected-by-parliament measure. The four UML members in question had voted for the proposals at the time as per “party policy”.



So, why this change of heart? Without doubt, internal party rift is at play. These UML members belong to a faction led by party chairman Jhala Nath Khanal. The other faction, led by KP Sharma Oli, which also has Prime Minister (PM) Madhav Kumar Nepal’s blessings, was active in forging an alliance with the NC during the voting on systems of governance. While the Khanal faction is believed to have majority in the UML’s Parliamentary Party (PP), the Oli faction holds sway in its Politburo and the powerful Central Committee. The PP, on Jan 11, decided to ignore the voting of Dec 1 as directed by UML Politburo and revert to its proposal on election of executive PM as per its CA election manifesto and the party’s general convention mandate in early 2009. With none of the proposals on system of governance getting a clear majority, the Khanal faction now wants to stick to its earlier stance.



It is unfortunate that the CA is becoming a playground for the UML factions to stage their game of one-upmanship. The discussions and votes in the assembly are serious matters and cannot be taken lightly. While the UML has all the right to stick to its election manifesto, the party cannot take its responsibility in the CA lightly for it would mean more delays in writing the constitution on time. The voting controversy also demonstrates the short-sightedness of our party leaders. The UML members can always “correct” their votes when all the proposals and preliminary drafts from various CA committees face the 601-member assembly. Trying to disturb the process of finalization due to intra-party rift is unacceptable.



This is not the first time that a party has delayed the CA’s functioning. The Maoists did it with frequent changing of their proposed federal Nepal’s maps; the NC sought more time only to say at the end that it won’t submit any. The parties either change their stance frequently or cannot convey anything at all, causing needless delays. We ask all the parties to ensure that their intra-party rift or indecision does not hold the CA a hostage.

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