For a New Politics?

King Gyanendra and other elites put in a public appearance during the Indra Jatra festival in 2006. However, the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections, to be held in Nepal in November, will determine, amongst other issues, the future of the Monarchy. In addition, the CA will restructure the Nepali state as per the People’s Movement mandate; ensure proportional representation (PR) at all levels of the state administration; institutionalise people’s sovereignty and rights; and formulate and enforce the law of the land. As currently constituted, the CA will have 497 seats: 240 seats via PR; 240 seats through a first past the post (FPTP) system; and 17 seats nominated by the Government cabinet.

However, the Maoists have just pulled out of the Interim Government and demanded the institution of a 22 point agenda, and disruption of the forthcoming elections. The principal issues at stake for the Maoists are the declaration of a Republic before the CA elections (thereby abolishing the Monarchy) and PR for all of the elected seats in the November elections. Their rationale for re-articulating these long standing demands now is: (i) they believe that domestic and foreign powers (read the U.S.; U.K.; India and the EU) are more interested in transforming the Maoists into a parliamentary force than in transforming the country's polity; (ii) the current Koirala government has failed to implement agreements reached with the Maoists, especially: removing military personnel from the royal palace; taking action against those indicted for human rights abuses; providing allowances for Maoist combatants; making public the cases of disappearance; and providing relief to the victims of the conflict; (iii) the Maoists have reviewed their organisational strength and popular base.

Frantic talks by the other political parties continue behind the scenes to keep the Maoists in the electoral process, even as the latter threaten mass peaceful agitations to disrupt the elections. The political situation remains in flux, and the King remains in his palace for the time being, at least.