Political fortune-tellers, who usually go wrong in their predictions, have been concocting theories about the Maoist electoral triumph in the Nepal Constituent Assembly elections. But, the fact they, as well as, mainstream politicians failed to appreciate is that the Nepalese people, longtime sufferers of a decade-long insurgency, have lost faith in the system of governance and its capacity to deliver peace and order and minimal economic development. While licking their wounds and nursing hurt pride, these political parties would do themselves and the country great harm by resisting forces of progress and change and a new republican order based on secular, democratic and egalitarian principles.
The king's version of democracy was responsible for making Nepal one of the world's poorest countries and almost at the bottom of the LDCs. The people have blamed the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party (Marxist Leninist) who have been in power from time to time, for failure to ensure a corruption-free government, inter-ethnic harmony and peace, poverty removal and social justice. Though the people suffered a great deal as a result of Maoist insurgency, which cost in excess of 10,000 lives, they availed the opportunity offered by the elections to give the former rebels a chance to return to the mainstream and join the democratic exercise. The result is shattering of old myths and emergence of new and healthy democratic trends which augur well for the future.
Nepal now enters a new and uncertain phase in its chequered history and its future peace and stability sill depend on the extent to which the mainstream political parties flow with the current and guide its course in constructive channels. The emergence of a new political force cannot be simply wished away and they should not shirk the responsibility of writing a democratic constitution and participate in governance. They will exercise far greater influence by being part of the exercise, than keeping aloof or even opposing it which will further marginalize them. They will lose all influence in moderating their extremist and impractical revolutionary ideas. Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" has again committed himself to work in tandem with the parties and keep the alliance intact till at least the Constituent Assembly has completed its labors.
The election has shattered many old myths and opened up vistas for internal, as well as, external forces -- extremely hostile towards the Maoists -- to reappraise and moderate their views. Conclusion number one is that the public opinion overwhelmingly favours abolition of the monarchy which represented a symbol of backwardness and feudalism. Despite the king's last-minute appeal to the voters to come out in large numbers and defeat the royalists could not capture even ten seats. Even the Nepali Congress which stood for some kind of constitutional role for the monarchy, as well as, others received a drubbing. There is no way that the Constituent Assembly will be prevented from voting for total abolition of monarchy and turning Nepal into a democratic republic ruled by law and not a despotic king.
Conclusion number two: countries including India which erroneously worked on the assumption of a Maoist defeat, have now to accept the reality of Maoist ascendancy. They cannot stand in the way of a Maoist-led coalition ruling Nepal till the new constitution is finalized and fresh elections are held, possibly late next year. The constitution should make adequate provision for Nepal emerging from a feudal into a broad-based and truly democratic state in which people's interest holds primacy and social justice is ensured to all, regardless of class or status. This may involve drastic changes in the land ownership, empowering the landless and the dispossessed and he oppressed classes which alone can lead to economic and social development. The key political forces, though cut to size, need to work in collaboration to ensure a smooth and inclusive functioning of the government.
Conclusion number three: The Maoists, a flush with victory, are now called upon to behave responsibly and move from belligerent radicalism to responsible leadership of state. "Prachanda" has reassured the national and international community of the commitment of his party to multiparty democracy and willingness to work with the other parties. Even before their victory, another Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai had said that the new agenda was federalism, restructuring the Army, which hitherto owed allegiance to the king, a republic which guarantees the rights of all peoples, including the Madheshis, Janajatis and Dalits, people's empowerment and social justice. "If we are not in the CA to lead it, this agenda simply won't be implemented".
Conclusion number four: The success of the Madheshis in the election shows that they will now assert their rights more forcefully.
MK Dhar, NPA
Print This Page
Terms
and Conditions