The unceremonious demise of Constituent Assembly last May represented the most egregious failure of the big political forces to look beyond their narrow interests. Nine and a half months later, they persist in their errant way, at considerable risk to the country’s future as a sovereign state and a functioning democracy. It appears that none of the Big Four wants new CA polls in the near future. If there was genuine political will, the disagreements that are reportedly obstructing a breakthrough could have been long settled. In the absence of such will, no sooner is there an agreement on one contentious issue (citizenship, transitional justice mechanisms), deep disagreements start surfacing on another (rank determination of ex-Maoist combatants in Nepal Army). By the looks of things, even if there is an agreement on the latest difference over rank determination, one of the big forces could come up with yet another rider for CA polls. This process could continue ad infinitum. Sometimes it appears political leadership across party lines are colluding to postpone the polls indefinitely.
Meanwhile, the case against a sitting Chief Justice leading the government is still sub judice at the Supreme Court. The lack of seriousness among political parties for a breakthrough is clear from the fact that sometimes they say they are waiting for the final SC verdict, while in the next breath they speak openly of clearing all hurdles for a CJ-led government before the final apex court hearing on May 14. In any case, the SC decision will be irrelevant if there is no political will for a breakthrough. There are genuine reasons why the big parties are election-shy. From their advantageous perch, UCPN (Maoist) and the Madhesi parties want to prolong their tenure in government: the former is reluctant of polls after its split in June, the latter wary given their dismal failure to live up to the expectations of the Madhesi people. Likewise, there does not seem to be much appetite for polls in Nepali Congress (which has lost its crucial base in Tarai and whose nationwide machinery is in tatters) as well as in CPN-UML (which is still struggling to come to grips with the departure of its Janajati faction).
This tendency among the political parties to shun polls is a grave sign for any democracy, particularly one in a difficult transition. The parties understand very well that new CA poll is the only way out of the current impasse. But they are still reluctant to take the plunge. Eventually, this persistent failure of the political parties to rise to the challenges facing the country could make people lose faith in the democratic process itself, opening the backdoor for another autocrat. Another danger is a further increase in foreign meddling, which has already reached troubling proportions. Timely CA poll is the one and only way to safeguard the achievements post 2006 and to thwart undue foreign designs. If there is a genuine spirit of compromise, no issue is big enough to hinder timely polls. But the way one obstruction after another keeps cropping up, the political parties don’t seem to be serious about the polls at all. They should correct their course on time—if for no greater purpose, than for their continued relevance in Nepali politics.
Related story
Coronavirus: Symptoms and signs that are linked to COVID, but a...
