Stop issuing deadlines: Civil society to prez

KATHMANDU, Jan 14: The ninth deadline issued by the president to the political parties to find a consensus prime ministerial candidate is expiring on Monday. But the parties did not even sit for “negotiations” this time around, leaving President Yadav no choice but to extend the deadline yet again.



The parties neither appear “serious” about the deadlines nor is the president prepared to take “extra constitutional measures” to end this protracted deadlock. “The president should stop issuing more deadlines as this would only tarnish the image and credibility of the highest political institution,” argued constitutional lawyer Bhimarjun Acharya.[break]



Like other civil society leaders, Acharya believes that repeated deadlines would not help resolve the political and constitutional deadlock unless the parties themselves take proactive steps.



“The president should stop issuing deadlines to allow parties some time to forge consensus on their own,” he added. The president had first served a one-week deadline to the parties to form a consensus government on November 23, 2011.



Former chief election commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokharel argued that extending the deadline would only be a futile exercise. “I personally feel that the parties have lost direction. Consensus is not possible unless they agree on their destination,” said Pokharel, while suggesting the president not to issue further deadlines.



Political analyst Bishnu Sapkota argued it is neither desirable for the president to continue serving deadlines, nor would it augur well for the country if he invokes Article 38 (2).



“Instead, the best thing the president can do now is to seek a political roadmap from the parties. The president may even choose to ask Pushpa Kamal Dahal to forge consensus with other political parties so that he can appoint Dahal as the consensus prime minister for holding fresh polls,” argued Sapkota. “My suggestions may sound harsh. But since Dahal can convince both the prime minister and the Madhesi parties, this could help end the deadlock. Moreover, Bhattarai´s ouster would pacify the opposition parties.”



Similarly, Pokharel suggested to the parties to sketch a roadmap for holding fresh election. “Parties should reach a package deal, including on the leadership of new government that will hold polls and constitutional, legal and technical aspects with respect to the polls,” he said. “The president does not have any role here.”



Echoing Pokharel, Madhesi intellectual and journalist Chandra Kishore Jha said the parties are supposed to end the deadlock and not the ceremonial president. “Though the president has only one option at hand to resolve the deadlock, the country always has multiple options. The country will take its own course if the political parties fail to arrive at consensus for long,” he said.



Jha argued that the failure of the four major political parties to bail the country out of ongoing deadlock has compelled the president to consult other political parties represented the erstwhile CA. “If these parties fail as well, all the parties registered with the Election Commission would take on the mantle. The country will take its own course if the parties fail,” he further said.

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