“No Nepali government will have any legitimacy without elections. Some leaders and parties are obstructing the electoral process as they have nothing to face the electorate with. But elections must be held,” S D Muni, a long-time Nepal expert in India, told Republica.[break]
Responding to an email query on his views regarding those political factions which are threatening to obstruct the upcoming polls in Nepal, Muni, wrote, “The major parties should try seriously and sincerely to persuade the dissenters to come on board and participate in the polls,” adding, “For this some compromises could and should be made in the interest of smooth elections.”
On the role of the international community, Muni, who is at present in Singapore with the Institute of South Asian Studies, said, “International community must also help in this respect wherever possible.”
“After that, the Nepali state with the help of law and order instruments must ensure that elections are held peacefully and in a fair and free manner,” he said, “It does not matter if some constituencies are disrupted. I am sure that more than 80-90 per cent Nepalis want polls.”
Speaking to Republica on Indian External Affairs Minister, Salman Khurshid’s visit to Nepal, Dr Ravni Thakur, a professor at Delhi University, said, “This visit is extremely important as India has played a meaningful role in Nepal to ensure that Nepal emerges as a genuine democracy. This visit will further strengthen the relation between the two countries.”
On the elections, Thakur, said, “The elections should take place. We want to watch what kind of alliances will be put together in Nepal.”
Dr Satish Misra, a senior journalist and a senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, a think-tank in Delhi, said, “Khurshid should impress upon the political leaders of Nepal that elections, which are slated for November 19, are the best way forward to restore stability in a country which has been functioning without a Constitution,” adding, “Since political parties derive their legitimacy from people, they must participate in the election without any reservations.”
Responding to the dissenting voices in Nepal, Misra said, “The government should also be flexible to meet genuine demands of the political parties but election must take place. A political party which decides to abstain from the electoral process would only reflect its weakness or fear to face people.”
He also added that Khurshid should “stress that election is the only way out and elections must be held on the scheduled date.”
Indian thinkers are of the view that postponing election is no solution as it would mean “postponing country´s problems.”
Nihar Nayak of Institute of Defense and Strategic Analysis, however, said, “The demands of the dissenting forces have to be addressed, otherwise the elections will not be peaceful.”
Khurshid is reaching Kathmandu tomorrow. During his stay in Nepal, Khurshid is going to meet leaders of the major political parties and the representatives of the interim government.
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