Time to call a spade a spade

With the presidential election over,  the nation has witnessed yet another round of “coalition musical chair”. But, crises are underway. Pushpa Kamal Dahal who was legitimized by almost unanimous support on January 10 is all set to mark the record to be a Prime Minister having to seek a vote of confidence in two months.

Election is an important means to bestow legitimacy, institutionalize and strengthen democratic governance. Democracy travels through the route of the majority respecting all the minorities and dissents. Scrutiny, multifaceted concerns together with embodied accountability are the pillars of democratic system. Putting certain individuals above the law, or defending every wrongful deeds of theirs in the name of political ‘consensus’ is, in fact, something that must be avoided in democracy as it preaches and  promotes ‘equality before law’.

The promised political course towards good governance as promised by parties once again on the eve of the General Election, like in the past remains a far cry. Within the 3 months of the poll outcome, what the country witnessed was the annihilation of the basic value of democracy. The party with the highest number of seats in parliament was forced to remain a back-bencher, whereas the Maoist Centre, with just 32 members, led the government on Dec 26. In a way, it was a replay of Madhav Nepal becoming Prime Minister after he lost election from two constituencies he had fought in 2008 General elections.

The landslide victory that Prachanda got during the Vote of confidence, it now shows, was also the beginning of another conspiracy that unfolded during the presidential poll. Prachnda went on his bended knees to get Oli’s support to form the government, but ditched him in the next available opportunity by siding with Nepali congress. Fast shifting alliances for power has further discredited politics and politicians.

The op-ed, media talk shows and experts’ opinions concerning economic issues all at once seem to indicate unprecedented crisis forthcoming unless serious and sincere measures are taken. But, the executive head of the state is crippled with the burden of 17 ministries where all the ministries considered as critically important – Home, Finance, Foreign Affairs are vacant. On top of this, Prachanda may have to barter these portfolios to ensure his victory in the next vote of confidence, but not certainly to steer the country out of the impending crisis.

Prachnda went on his bended knees to get Oli’s support to form the government, but ditched him in the next available opportunity by siding with Nepali congress. Fast shifting alliances for power has further discredited politics and politicians. 

Ram Chandra Paudel was elected as the third president on March 9. The mockery to the republic is the foremost expectation of the public to the newly elected head of the state- the newly elected head of the state lost no time in going for a whirlwind tour of the capital bringing every movement, activities to a standstill.

Beside serious economic crisis taking its head up, the victims of the insurgency era are knocking the door of the Supreme Court after successive governments refused to give them the justice promised under the Comprehensive Peace Accord.

The admission of the writ in the Supreme Court, seems to have provoked Maoist factions, as they are threatening to resort to retaliatory violence. In other words, they are opposed to ensuring transitional justice to the victims. More strangely, the Nepali Congress has stood by the Maoists opposing transitional justice than behind its cadres who are seeking justice from the Supreme Court. Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplab’ has gone to the extent of saying that the revolution now begins from Kathmandu not from villages.

Furthermore, a large number of victims are hitting the streets demanding that the loans they have borrowed from the banks, cooperatives and microfinance companies be waived given their declining economic state.

On the one hand, ministers responsible to address these issues are vacant and on the other, the PM’s priority for some coming months will be limited to ensure his continuation in the post, by hook or crook.  The bluff of playing ‘consensus card’ where fair practice of democracy is all defiled need to be called.