Parties making promises only to break them

ANANTA RAJ LUITEL

KATHMANDU: During a meeting with the President on October 1, top leaders of major political forces —the Unified CPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and United Democratic Madhesi Front — had expressed commitment that they would hold regular meetings among them and do their best to find a way out to present crisis by mid-October. But is there any solution in sight?

“The commitment was made for public consumption. There was no other option before the leaders,” Pradeep Gyawali, UML central leader, told The Himalayan Times. “There is no credible ground to believe their commitment. They made the commitment amid pressure from the President and the general public.”

Since they returned from Shital Niwas, the major parties have not held genuine talks even once. There are only five days left for their self-served mid-October deadline to find ‘a concrete solution’.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is heading for Belgium for a weeklong trip day after tomorrow so any headway during his absence is quite unlikely.

A close aide to the President, however, said the Head of the State will continue his efforts to bring the parties together to seek solutions to the present crisis. During his meeting with the top leaders, the President had told them in clear terms that he wanted them to define his role. He had informed the parties that they would have to take the responsibility for any decision taken by him as per their recommendation.

Though the UCPN-M till a few weeks ago was against the reinstatement of the dissolved Constituent Assembly, it has of late tried a different tack and its Chairman Dahal has been saying CA revival was necessary to amend the Interim Constitution and laws for holding elections. Many view Dahal’s call for CA revival as a strategic plan through which his party has been successful in dividing political parties.

And other political parties are finding it too tough to take a decision.

Parties also dread elections for the fear of rejection and are more tilted towards reviving the CA, despite knowing that the move would do no good in rescuing the country from the crisis.

“The Maoists are not honest. They are not ready to quit the government and problem is lingering on,” said NC leader Arjun Narasingh KC. “There is no solution in sight unless the UCPN-M agrees to form a consensus government. CA revival is just a strategic move of the UCPN-M.”