The Nepali polity and 'crisis may further deepen
The idea of fresh elections could 'polarise' the Nepali polity and
'crisis may further deepen,' Nepal watchers here have cautioned. Some of
them even went on to say that it will be better to hold the elections
for a new parliament rather than electing a new Constituent Assembly
(CA).
"In the past, the CA also had the legislative role. After the elections to a new parliament, it can also act as the CA if needed," argued Shiv Shankar Mukherjee, the former Indian ambassador to Nepal.
The editor of Indian daily The Hindu, Siddhartha Varadrajan, said the decision to go to the polls will further polarise Nepal's domestic politics. "On one side, going to fresh elections or clamping emergency will have the danger of losing the political gains Nepal has achieved over few years," said Varadrajan. "On the other hand, the possibility of parties like Nepali Congress and CPN-UML not participating in the elections is high as they seem to be losing their support among voters."
Another Indian expert on Nepal issues Ashok Mehta, a retired Major General of the Indian Army, however, still sees room for revival of the CA and extending its tenure with consensus among political parties.
"The President is yet to accept the Prime Minister's proposal of fresh polls. I think, given the past experiences, the President can revive the CA and extend its tenure by three or six months, clamping emergency," said Mehta.
"Most of the issues have already been resolved by the dissolved CA. So, it is not a good idea to elect a new CA because the political process may go back to the pre-2008 period," he added.
Regarding New Delhi's 'role' in Nepali polity, almost all the experts and former diplomats share the thought that India was keen to see the promulgation of a federal constitution by May 27.
"India has been stressing that Nepal's transition to democracy, stability and prosperity must be Nepali-led and Nepali-driven,” said Mukherjee. “As a close neighbour and good friend, India was very keen to see the constitution being promulgated within the stipulated time.
"But the completion of the whole political process is not an easy job and everything could not happen overnight. I am still optimistic that political forces in Nepal will be able to agree sooner rather than later on a reasonable and acceptable constitution to all Nepalis."
"In the past, the CA also had the legislative role. After the elections to a new parliament, it can also act as the CA if needed," argued Shiv Shankar Mukherjee, the former Indian ambassador to Nepal.
The editor of Indian daily The Hindu, Siddhartha Varadrajan, said the decision to go to the polls will further polarise Nepal's domestic politics. "On one side, going to fresh elections or clamping emergency will have the danger of losing the political gains Nepal has achieved over few years," said Varadrajan. "On the other hand, the possibility of parties like Nepali Congress and CPN-UML not participating in the elections is high as they seem to be losing their support among voters."
Another Indian expert on Nepal issues Ashok Mehta, a retired Major General of the Indian Army, however, still sees room for revival of the CA and extending its tenure with consensus among political parties.
"The President is yet to accept the Prime Minister's proposal of fresh polls. I think, given the past experiences, the President can revive the CA and extend its tenure by three or six months, clamping emergency," said Mehta.
"Most of the issues have already been resolved by the dissolved CA. So, it is not a good idea to elect a new CA because the political process may go back to the pre-2008 period," he added.
Regarding New Delhi's 'role' in Nepali polity, almost all the experts and former diplomats share the thought that India was keen to see the promulgation of a federal constitution by May 27.
"India has been stressing that Nepal's transition to democracy, stability and prosperity must be Nepali-led and Nepali-driven,” said Mukherjee. “As a close neighbour and good friend, India was very keen to see the constitution being promulgated within the stipulated time.
"But the completion of the whole political process is not an easy job and everything could not happen overnight. I am still optimistic that political forces in Nepal will be able to agree sooner rather than later on a reasonable and acceptable constitution to all Nepalis."
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