Girija Needs To Retire
He is past retirement age. He is not capable of hectic day to day work. After the country gets a new constitution, he will be in no position to run for president. It is in the best interests of the party that someone else succeed him now so that the party has a figure to project during the presidential election.
If Girija can not remain in active politics for the next seven years, he should retire now. That will be in the best interests of his party.
No Unification Without A Convention
A convention would be the best way to unify the two Congress parties. The party is reborn each convention. Everyone has to renew their membership. And so the members of the two parties would start at the bottom, and let the chips fall where they may.
The two factions show no signs of coming together otherwise.
The Mantra Is A Federal Republic
Unless the Congress factions become one and the unified party is strongly for a federal republic, the Maoists have a strong chance of emerging the largest party in the constituent assembly. Should that happen, Prachanda will be in a strong position to stake his claim for the presidency in the constituent assembly. I am for ballot power. If Prachanda harnesses it, so be it. But if I were the Congress, I would be worried.
Republic Now
The line that it is for the people to decide what they want to do with the monarchy just does not hold water. The Congress will have to take a clear stand. And that clear stand better be a republic. That is the groundswell sentiment withing the Congress itself.
New Party President
Girija's retirement will leave a wide open field. I hope there are several contestansts, and they each come forth with a plank each, a set of new ideas for the country and for party reform.
Sher Bahadur Deuba is an obvious candidate. Ram Chandra Poudel might be another. Shailaja Acharya might jump in. I hope Bimalendra Nidhi runs. If he does not win, he would be the most obvious candidate for party vice president. You need a Madhesi face up there for a party that's base is primarily in the Terai.
This might end up being the first time when the party truly has an election for president. The first generation's hold on the party has been too strong to allow for an open competition during the previous rounds.
I think each candidate will come out for a federal republic, but each will have to get much more specific in terms of the map they will likely propose for that federalism. That will spark a necessary discussion in the country at large.
Democracy is not a symphony, it is a cacophony.
Breakthrough (October 31)
In The News
UN intends to respond promptly; Annan calls all sides to maintain the momentum of peace process NepalNews
India positive for the release of Maoist leaders: DPM Oli
Constitution Day will not be celebrated today
Retiring SC Justice defends his verdict on Mahalaxmi Sugar Mill case, says he is proud of his verdict
Patan Appellate Court orders NRB to stop action against NBBL
Monarchy is virtually under suspension, PM will be de facto head of state: Prachanda
SPA, Maoist agreement foundation for new Nepal: PM Koirala
We will have to see the actions of the Maoists now, says Moriarty
India, US welcome SPA, Maoist agreement
Speaker says agreement has not addressed sovereign rights of citizens
Leaders hail the deal as historic harbinger of peace
Student hurt in ANNFSU, ANNISU (R) clash at RR Campus
SC orders authorities to review transport fares
Oli to cut short his India tour
US condemns Maoist intimidation
Indian government says it had no role in inviting Prachanda
Nepal's decade of war draws to a close Christian Science Monitor, MA
State Department welcomes Nepal government's agreement with ... International Herald Tribune, France
Nepal heading toward permanent peace after latest peace ... People's Daily Online, China
Nepal Maoists and Democracy: From A Protest Venue United We Blog, Nepal
Rebel Maoists to join Nepal government in landmark peace deal Haveeru Daily, Maldives
NC to Go to CA Polls with Own Agenda: Poudel
Nepal govt, Maoists clinch peace deal The Daily Star, Bangladesh
Embattled town welcomes Nepal truce BBC News, UK
Wednesday's accord will carve out roadmap for new Nepal: Prachanda
Maoist million mass meet cancelled
US, India welcome SPA-Maoist accord
'SPA-Maoist accord foundation for new Nepal'
UN envoy welcomes milestone accord, Moriarty more guarded
Maoists' lodging demand irks capital residents
India, Nepal keen to develop hydel potential
Locals up against Maoist demand for hospitality
IT Park fails to draw private sector interest
BALUWATAR TALKS: Government, Maoists reach historic agreement
US, NHRC condemn Maoist excesses
One injured after Maoists open fire
Oli meets Indian industrialists, visit cut short
माओवादीविरुद्ध नगरवासी
लामा मुक्ति मोर्चाको राष्ट्रिय सम्मेलन
सर्वदलीय समझदारी र नेपालको भविष्य
डेमोक्रेटको चुनावी उदय
न्यायपालिकाको सक्षमता र स्वतन्त्रता
समझदारी लगत्तै सेयर बजार तात्यो
Full text of the decisions of the SPA-Maoist summit meeting:
Respecting people’s aspiration for democracy, peace and progress expressed through repeated historic people’s movement and struggles since 1951,
Reaffirming commitments to the 12-point and 8-point agreements, and 25-point code of conduct between the seven parties and the Maoists along with other agreements, understandings, code of conducts and letter sent to the United Nations stating similar perspectives by the Maoists and the Nepal government,
Pledging for progressive restructuring of the state by resolving prevailing problems related with class, ethnicity, regional and gender differences,