Snarling Domestic Politics : Need Of All Inclusive Approach

Madhavji Shrestha

Obviously, Nepal's political process of democratisation is passing through a critical transitional phase from the old order to a newer one. Accumulation of problems, both at the national and local level, is on the increase. The time available for holding the election to the constituent assembly is now less than four months. Given the real achievement the interim government has made in the past four months, it appears that the government will be able to hold the election only if it can work on a war footing.

Lack of accomplishmentUntil the completion of the election in a. credible manner, other problems of various dimensions are bound to remain unaddressed. Considering the performance of the government in the past 15 months, most commitments in word are either being long delayed or not started at all, clearly showing a lack of accomplishment. As of now, the targeted political destination still seems miles away from realisation.In the wake of the resounding success of the people's movement of April 2006, the inflow of external support and sympathy from the international community for the democratisation process is indeed appreciable. However, the government that includes the Maoists has been unable to capitalise on the positive encouragement to move ahead on the democratisation process. The political parties with the state machinery in their hands are grappling with the political problem of how to go further with the coalitional politics so as to bring good prospects for the people long suffering from socio-economic degradation and isolation caused by political instability. This is one of the core issues to be taken up with regard to the approach of the official policy by the interim government. The appropriate step, if undertaken with a true coalitional spirit at heart by the politicians, would eliminate the hurdles and introduce a new and broad chapter in the Nepali political landscape. Had coalitional politics at the government level worked in a proper direction as expected by the common people, the Nepali society would have experienced the steady emergence of the consociational political system, which is characterised by an equitable participation of various ethnic, cultural and linguistic groups spread across the country. Such a political process, if genuinely practised, might have heralded both accommodative and associative democracy.

We find very good examples of consociational democracy in Belgium, the Netherlands and, particularly, in Switzerland. These European countries have a social fabric that is of a multi-composite nature. However, it is the incomparable genius of politicians and statesmen of these countries that they could invent and put into practice consociational democracy that has been highly successful in ensuring that the coalitional government runs the administration satisfactorily. In reality, accommodative democracy guarantees the sharing of the political power by various multi-ethnic groups, and associative democracy facilitates in sharing the economic growth in a justifiable way. Unfortunately in Nepal, political developments are heading toward digression, if not yet deteriorating irreparably, because most of the political parties are headed and directed by the elite class, which by tradition does not genuinely represent the desire and need of the people at the grass root. Nor is there any likelihood in the near future of a political and governmental leadership surfacing that can reflect the highly composite social structure of the country. We have at least 60 ethnic groups that are sub-divided into several sub groups and mini clusters of people spread all over the country. Many of these groups have remained outside the purview of the modern system of administration and political democracy. The massive participation in the political revolution of April 2006 by the people of various walks and strata of life has opened the floodgates of political awareness and consciousness about political rights.

In the immediate aftermath of the people's movement last year, the common people's expectations have risen greatly for building democracy in the newly emerging society. Some political measures of historical significance have already been rooted. However, these politically inspired actions have yet to be effectively implemented for a democratic process advancing in a proper direction. Political observers point out the inherent weakness of the eight political parties and the interim government in introducing a political culture of working together to translate their commitments into accomplishments. This core need is visibly lacking in them. This immeasurable lacuna has made the country and people pay dearly at the cost of building a democratic society.Its direct consequence implies that the country is now fast moving towards ethnicity building instead of democracy building. True, ethnicity building is also not an undesirable development to look at, if not accompanied by violence. Each ethnic group needs to enjoy freedom and liberty in a congenial atmosphere inspired and characterised by democratic ideals and actions. However, the recently emerging reality points to the other side of development with no indication of a quick solution appearing in the scene. Currently, the Terai belt is in flames, the indigenous nationalities are making vociferous protests and other dissenting segments of the society are wrecking havoc. Constituent assembly electionThe failure to complete the promised election on the scheduled date would unquestionably prove the gross inability and incompetence of the leaders of the interim government led by the eight political parties. These politicians must come out of their political cocoon much dotted by their pre-conceived notion of political belief and behaviour if they are true to the democratic spirit of pluralism.

Source: The Rising Nepal, August 7, 2007