Eight-Party Alliance : Unity A Must
Geja Sharma Wagle
Following the uncertainty of the much awaited constituent assembly (CA) election, the coalition partners of the Eight-Party Alliance (EPA) seem to have been engaging on the futile debate regarding the CA polls date and declaration of a republic setup. The major left partners of the EPA ? the CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist have been demanding the immediate declaration of the fresh date for the CA polls. Moreover, they have been demanding the declaration of a republic state through the sovereign interim legislature because even after the establishment of democracy the palace is still conspiring against the hard-earned democracy, people's rights, and the CA polls. Likewise, as per their analysis, as long as feudal and autocratic monarchy remains neither there will be the CA polls nor will political stability come about.
Analysis
Leaders of the CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist have revealed that establishing a democratic republic through the CA election was a fundamental basis of the unity of the EPA. As analyzed by CPN-Maoist Chairman Prachanda ? due to the conspiracy of the palace, to hold the CA polls in July is not possible and has already been declared by the Election Commission (EC). Prachanda has even warned that the existence of the unity will be over and they will commence another people's movement, if the interim legislature does not declare a republic state by abolishing the autocratic monarchy. But the democratic parties ? the Nepali Congress (NC) and the Nepali Congress- Democratic (NC-D) do not seem to have been positive towards declaring a republic from the interim legislature. Considering the political implication of the declaration, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba have opined that as responsible political forces of the nation the EPA should follow and respect the spirit and letters of the interim constitution that has been okayed by the eight parties. The leadership of the NC and the NC-D seem to be committed that the fate of the king should be decided by the first meeting of the constituent assembly as per the interim constitution. Likewise, they have opined that all the political parties should remain united for holding the CA election and against the regressive and anti democratic forces.
In fact, the unwanted debate of the coalition partners regarding the declaration of the republic through the interim legislature and holding the CA polls has unnecessarily causing negative impacts on the fragile transitional peace process and the future of the EPA coalition. Questions are being raised as to the continued unity of the EPA. Will the CA polls be held in time or not? Will the political parties really start a power struggle? In fact, the backdrop of the controversies may be a result of the unification of the regressive and autocratic forces to conspire and attack against the achievements of the movements, people's rights, and the CA polls. Nepal is passing through a historical transitional phase. But history and the next generation will never excuse the EPA leaders, if the newly established democracy does not become sustainable and the CA election is not held in time. Therefore, it is not a time for futile debates and disagreements amongst the coalition partners. It is a high time for dialogue, agreement, and reconciliation among the coalition partners so as to establish a liberal, democratic, and egalitarian society.
However, the political parties have their own political agendas and might have their own election strategy. But having their own political agendas the Seven-Party Alliance (SPA) and the Maoists had agreed to promulgate the interim constitution and had signed the various agreements in the past for establishing complete democracy, permanent peace, and progressive transformation of the state. In the transitional period, they must have common policies, strategies, and programs for the sake of institutional development of democracy and establishing people's supremacy. Therefore, the EPA must sort out their disagreements and differences as per the sprit of the interim constitution, democratic principles, and the mandate of the movement. If the much-awaited CA polls are to be held and a new constitution is to be drafted, the EPA needs to remain united by putting aside their differences. The EPA and the government should respect the wishes of the people and act according to the mandate of the movement. They must develop the coalition culture to run the coalition government and should take unanimous decisions regarding all political issues. They, thus, should immediately declare the fresh date for the CA elections and sort out their differences amicably considering the fluid political situation and the possible implication of the EPA differences.
ProblemsThere are still many political, constitutional, social, economic, and cultural problems yet to be resolved before the CA polls. The Terai, Chure-Bhawar, and ethnic community's rights movements have created the serious problems for the CA polls and they have to be resolved urgently by the interim government. Likewise, restructuring of the state, democratization of the Nepal Army, establishing people's supremacy are the complex issues that the EPA should focus on. Therefore, unity is a must for the future of democracy, people's rights, and the CA polls.
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