Seize the opportunity

It is good news that the nearly two week-long high-voltage drama that shook the very foundations of the ruling CPN-UML has come to an end with the party’s central committee deciding to own up to the secret seven-point agreement, with additional explanatory notes to correct inconsistencies seen in the deal. There is virtually no dispute that Prime Minister Jalanath Khanal blundered in signing such a self-defeating agreement with the Maoists without taking the senior leaders of his own party into confidence. The prime minister has admitted the mistake, which, many believe, was the result of his emotional desperation to occupy that lofty post.



However, for a leader of a party which has seen so many upheavals during its over two-decade history of open politics, such an act was something disturbing indeed. Anyway, the manner in which the central committee of the UML handled the rifts and managed a safe landing has proved that it is mature enough to settle disputes through consultations.



Undoubtedly, the settlement of the row will have a positive impact on national politics, as it paves the way for the Maoists to join the government. However, we believe the real success and synergy of the UML-Maoist coalition in settling chronic political problems will largely depend upon whether it is be able to persuade the Nepali Congress and other major political parties to join the Khanal-led government and make it a truly national government. Such a government is the need of the hour if we are to take the tortuous peace process to a logical end. There is no disputing that only a national government duly participated by all the major parties can take the country forward to the promulgation of a federal, democratic constitution -- something essential for lasting peace.



It is encouraging that the UML central committee has formed a four-member committee tasked with negotiating with the Nepali Congress and other political parties to bring them into the government. This is the right opportunity for the prime minister, who also heads that committee, to translate his oft-chanted mantra of national consensus into action. We also urge the Nepali Congress and other major political parties not to rule out the possibility of their joining the government if there are real chances of forging a new political understanding toward completing the remaining tasks of the peace process, including constitution-writing, before the May 28 deadline.



The country has already wasted 33 precious months since the CA election. During that period, we have seen almost every manner of coalition and none of them has been successful in moving toward the national goal of lasting peace. Let us now be dead serious about exploiting this probably best available chance before it is too late.

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