There have been some positive vibes on the electoral front in the last few days. Most significantly, the Upendra Yadav-led Federal Democratic Front entered into a six-point agreement with the High Level Political Committee to clear the way for its participation in the November 19 election. Many believe this agreement will put pressure on other major poll-opposing forces like Mohan Baidya’s CPN-Maoist and Ashok Rai’s FSP to come around.
Indeed, after the HLPC conceded to the demand of increased PR seats in the new CA and hinted that it was open to poll postponement if the agitating parties are ready to join the election bandwagon, the latter will find it hard to maintain a tough stand in negotiations. FSP’s main demand has been increase of PR component to 58 percent, the same as in the last CA. FSP leaders are reportedly upset at the Upendra Yadav’s ‘unilateral’ agreement with HLPC. To make their presence felt, they could adopt a tougher stand on their other major demand of resignation of Khil Raj Regmi as CJ. But ultimately, desirable as it is, it would be extremely hard for FSP to keep pushing the single agenda of Regmi’s resignation as CJ. [break]
Things are a little different for Baidya-led CPN-Maoist and the 33-party agitating alliance it leads. Their major demand of roundtable conference is untenable; FSP has made it clear that it wants solutions to the country’s problems through dialogue among political parties. And although the HLPC has said it is ‘open’ about poll postponement (CPN-Maoist’s other major demand), it would be an extremely unpopular decision. After the second round of dialogue with government representatives, CPN-Maoist leaders expressed their optimism that a solution could yet be found. But they have been vague and government interlocutors have expressed their confusion about what exactly the 33-party alliance wants. It might only be a time-buying tactic. The alliance has been saying that it wants concrete agreements on the future constitution, but they have again been short on specifics. A broad framework on constitution would certainly be desirable—many believe the last CA failed as it didn’t set clear goalposts for itself—pushing for inclusion of specific proposals in the new constitution will be to deny the people the ultimate say.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has reopened voter registration following the agreement with the Yadav-led front. The EC has made it clear that it is working with a narrow timeframe and the damages done by any more disruptions to the electoral schedule could be irreparable. We agree and believe the November 19 election must be held on the scheduled date. Not doing so would send an extremely disturbing message: that political parties are not committed to the democratic process. This will allow undemocratic elements the breathing room they have been looking for ever since the abolition of monarchy in 2008. Utmost flexibility should be maintained while negotiating with the agitating parties, but if certain forces continue to stick to their guns while shunning meaningful compromise, time has come to leave them behind. All the focus now should be on how to make it happen on November 19, not dwell on why it can’t.
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