He is actually quite different from his predecessors. He has consistently shown vocal support for the cause of the Madhesis, Tharus and Janjatis. He has consistently supported federalism. He has argued that these states should have the right of self-determination. He overturned the decision of the Khanal government that daura suruwal be the only national dress. He has advocated that 10,000 Madhesis be enlisted in the army. In his inaugural speech to the parliament, he specifically mentioned the need to address the concerns of the Madhesi Andolan. This is very unPM-like for Nepal, as we knew it.
His critics will tell us that his love for the Madhesi-cause is to appease the Madhesi leaders whose support he will need to remain the PM. But that would be unfair. Baburam Bhattarai has advocated for a genuine assimilation of the Madhesis, long before he was a candidate for the PM. He is offering a sharply different vision for Nepal.
He is also setting a new standard for the PM. He is leading by example, and inspiring millions. Even if he fails as a PM, it could be the beginning of a new standard that Nepalis want their PM to meet.
He has rightly set the drafting of the constitution as his first priority. To successfully complete this process, his advisors need to grasp the following. There are two reasons that the constitution writing has been delayed. One is that an interest group that benefits by delaying the writing of constitution has evolved. The other, perhaps a more important reason, is that influential leaders who have different visions for Nepal cannot reach a compromise.
Writing the constitution depends on whether NC and UML, who champion the old vision, compromise in terms of federalism, decentralization of power, and the empowering of Madhesis, Janjatis and Tharus. If the Congress and UML do not show flexibility in their old vision for Nepal, and want to continue the upper-caste and hill-centric vision, Baburam Bhattarai should go ahead with the support he can get and prepare his own draft.
He should make this document public, and campaign for it. Only when UML and NC fear that they might lose a significant proportion of votes by not showing support to a drafted constitution, they will change their mind. If they still do not support it, the Maoist should seek another election and make their existing draft the centerpiece of the campaign.
Baburam Bhattarai is actually quite different from his predecessors. He has consistently shown vocal support for the cause of the Madhesis, Tharus and Janjatis. He has consistently supported federalism.
After all, the need for a “new constitution” was never the idea of the UML and NC. They liked their own draft that they had crafted. The reason why the Maoist revolution succeeded was because the old constitution and the old vision for Nepal disillusioned a large chunk of the population. The Maoist and the Madhesis had ideas that were starkly different than that of UML and NC. That is why they did so well in the election. For some unfathomable reason, NC and UML don’t yet seem to grasp this. They continue to champion their old ideas, which have little support except among the upper-caste, and the hill-centric. If there is still doubt in this regard, it is wise to put their ideas to a scientific test.
The writer is an Assistant Professor of Economics and Finance at Texas A&M International University in Texas, US
680anand@gmail.com
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