Although the political parties had discussed established names like Dr Ganesh Gurung, Dr Pitambar Sharma and Prof Krishna Khanal -- persons known for expertise on federalism - on Monday, these disappeared one after another as the parties could not agree over them during final negotiations on Tuesday. [break]
Interestingly, the names were discussed extensively as possible heads of the commission on Monday. A question now arises why these names could not find place in the eight-member commission announced Tuesday.
At first, Gurung was seen as a strong candidate to head the commission. He was also chairman of a commission announced by the Maoist-led government in 2009 (the announcement did not materialize), according to political leaders.
The NC and CPN-UML were ready to accept him as commission head but the Maoists were not. His name was dropped after Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal, during negotiations on Monday, questioned his commitment to federalism, saying a person heading the commission should be someone with strong commitment to federalism.
As Gurung learnt about this, he showed his reluctance to work in the commission and conveyed this to the CPN-UML leaders who had proposed his name, according to a leader who participated in the meeting.
The second big name was Dr Pitambar Sharma. His name was taken out after Dahal opinioned that a Janajati should lead the commission, said another leader who participated in negotiations on formation of the commission. In addition, Dahal also questioned Sharma´s commitment to federalism.
Khanal, a professor of political science, was another prominent name. As of Monday, all the parties were almost in consensus over this name for heading the commission. His prospects had become stronger after the United Democratic Madhesi Front lent its support. Even the CPN-UML was positive over him. But he was dropped following an objection by the UCPN-M.
The Maoist leaders also rejected the NC and CPN-UML´s proposal to pick Kul Chandra Gautam, a former under secretary-general of the United Nations, as head of the commission. The Maoist leaders did not like the proposal.
Another name that was projected as head of the commission but could not find a place in the body was Padma Ratna Tuladhar, human rights activist and civil society leader.
Maoists and Madhesi parties were in consensus over his name for heading the commission. But it was taken off the roster following an objection from the NC and CPN-UML, according to Laxman Lal Karna, vice president of Sadbhawana Party, who participated in the discussion. According to a NC leader, Tuladhar was unacceptable as he lacked any expertise in the area of federalism.
"We choose only those names on which all the parties agreed," said Karna when asked why the big names could not find any place in the commission.
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