With just 70 days to go for promulgation of the new constitution, Nepalis would have hoped that the political parties would by now have bridged some of their most significant differences on peace and constitution. That does not seem to be happening. On Saturday, the uncertainties over timely and amicable settlement of outstanding disputes were further heightened as the Baidya faction of UCPN (Maoist) organized a press conference to make public their program to topple the Bhattarai-led government and frame a ‘people’s constitution’. The faction also expressed its desire to revive the ‘people’s governments’ that were in place during the insurgency.
Also on Saturday, President Ram Baran Yadav held discussions with the leaders of the four main political blocks to voice his concern over the divergent voices emerging from within them. He expressed his dissatisfaction that at a time when unity was expected between all democratic forces, the differences, if anything, seemed to be growing over vital issues like army integration and state restructuring, and also raised veiled doubt over the parties’ commitment to a constitution by May 27 deadline. As usual, the leaders of all four fronts expressed their confidence that a feasible solution could be worked out by the deadline.
Interestingly, Maoist Chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal is reported to have gotten a little het up during the meeting with president Yadav over other parties’ unwillingness to understand his ‘difficult position’ within his party. Dahal is undoubtedly in a difficult spot. In the past, he kept the party intact and consolidated his position at the top through need-based alliances with either the Baidya or the Bhattarai faction. Now it is becoming increasingly clear that his hold on the party is slowly but steadily slipping. If he sides with the Baidya faction, he risks losing whatever political capital he earned by agreeing to Bhattarai’s premiership in his stead seven months ago. On the other hand, if he does stick to Bhattarai’s line, his polarization with the Baidya faction is sure to increase in the lead up to May 27.
But Dahal could not have indefinitely delayed the difficult choice, more so for someone used to having it both ways. By making a firm commitment on the peace and constitution agenda now he might give the Baidya faction more ammunition against the party establishment. We believe this is a risk well worth taking. This is also a test of the Maoist chairman´s commitment to peaceful politics and whether or not he is serious about consolidating the country’s political achievements post-2006. It remains to be seen if Dahal, as one of the two main actors (with GP Koirala) in post-2006 politics (and as he is wont to reminding time and again), is capable of shouldering the huge responsibility that has fallen on him following Koirala’s demise in early 2010.
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