Interim Speaker: Chitra Lekha Yadav

Interim Speaker: Chitra Lekha Yadav

Chitralekha Yadav: Speaker

Chitra Lekha Yadav was good enough to be Speaker during the long months of the democracy movement, but not after. That was wrong. Now is the time to make up for it. I am glad a Janajati person served, but now is the time of the backward caste Terai woman.

These symbolisms matter.

Everything else was decided by the House on consensus. But a vote was threatened on the Speaker issue. That was wrong. Let's make up for it now.

Republic Now

I am alarmed with reports the king has become politically active again. He has been busy holding meetings. The guy does not get it, does he?

The choice during the constituent assembly was to be between a strictly ceremonial monarch and a republic. But this guy does not get the concept. He does not seem to understand he may not hold political meetings.

If he tries to influence the election in any way at all, he should be shown the door right away. The interim parliament may declare the country a republic through eight party consensus.

The people should not have to struggle with the monarchy question during the elections to the constituent assembly. If we declare the country a republic right away, that will be good. Otherwise the monachy as an issue will be a diversion to the real issues of the people, primarily to do with state restructuring.

Okay If The Two Congress Factions Stay Separate

Girija is almost always the last to come to the table. Look at the republic question. The people are ahead of his cadres and leaders. And he is behind them all.

It might be healthy for democracy in the country if the two Congress factions stay separate. You can have one large, unified party with two internal factions, or you can have two separate parties. It is cleaner to have two separate parties.

The Congress acted like it were two parties for much of the 1990s. That is nobody's fault. When the largest party is too much larger than the second largest party, part of it becomes its own opposition.

So I do not see the two factions coming together. Actually the whole farcical unification talk by Girija might be his way to make sure Deuba does not spend too much time expanding his organization on the ground.

Congress (D) Can Grow Fast

It is not a given that the Nepali Congress will stay larger than its rival faction. If the Congress (D) can take the lead on the idea of a federal republic, it might grow fast. Even a party like the Nepali Congress perhaps has 100,000 members in a country of 27 million. That is a drop in the ocean. Voter loyalty can shift fast.

Congress (I) used to rule in Bihar. And then it got pretty much wiped out.

Bahunbaad Hampering UML Growth

The UML would have been in a much better position, but I don't think it is capable of shedding its overwhelmingly Bahun composition at the top.

What Shape The Constituent Assembly

205 seats by direct elections, and roughly another 200 through proportional representation.

One scenario could be a reflection of what we have. Congress 73, Maoist 73, UML 68, Congress (D) 40, and the rest to others among the 205, and Congress 60, Maoist 55, UML, 50, Congress (D) 35, and the rest to others.

You are looking at an all party government again, or a government run by the majority coalition. If somehow the Maoists were to emerge the largest party, it would be hard to argue how Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal may not become Nepal's first president. I love the idea of Nepal's first president being Janajati.

On the other hand, the Congress, UML and the Congress (D) could always gang up and show the Maoists they do not have the numbers. That polarization might rob the Maoists of the presidency, but that will give them a huge boost for the subsequent parliamentary and presidential elections.

Maoists: Largest Party?

That is extremely possible. A scenario where the two Congress factions do not unite, and where the Maoists send a whole bunch of women and ethnics into the interim parliament is like a Space Shuttle about to take off. I am surprised though that they are ceding ground to the Congress parties and to the UML in the Terai. What about Madhesi representation?

Maybe their strategy is to consolidate parts of the country where they are strong. They are not seeking to expand right away, and hence the Madhesi blindspot. If I were the Maoists, I would not write off the Terai so easily.

I would advise the Maoists to work towards acceptance by other parties should they emerge the largest party. If they emerge the largest party, and the other three big cats gang up against them, I would consider that a failure on the part of the Maoist leadership.

They should be able to get hold of the UML easy, by creating a Left Front of sorts. And they should be able to exploit the animus between the two Congress factions. This is not an ideological struggle. This is just plain bad blood and hence easier to exploit.

I guess I like the idea of seeing a Janajati president. The heck with the Bahuns.

Tackling Bahunbaad
Prachanda's Shiva Sena
If Congress Does Not Go For Republic, Left Front Will Win
Why Prachanda Wants Girija To Lead The Interim Government

In The News

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Moriarty says Maoists not committed to agreement
Senior official reveals India has proposed Comprehensive Economic Agreement
Senior Maoist leaders call for 'broader republican front'
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Judges to get security
No let up in Maoist excesses: Report A group of local landowners, supported by Maoist cadres at Bankatiya of Banke Wednesday looted paddy from around 150 farmers of the district .... In Ilam, Maoists continue to collect "donations" from teachers of several schools in the district.
HoR can declare Nepal a republic: Speaker Nemwang Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR), Subash Chandra Nemwang has said that the HoR can declare the state a republic if the eight political parties wish so ..... the current House of Representatives, which is revolutionary in nature, can announce establishment of a republican set up Attack on SC justice Giri Gupta said he had lost a case in the Supreme Court regarding a dispute with a tenant and wanted to pressure the judges to resign.

Rights group urges Nepal justice BBC News, UK
Indo-Nepal ties to change after Menon's visit Times of India, India
UN council backs quick help for Nepal peace deal Reuters AlertNet, UK
Nepal interim government delayed, but no snags seen Reuters AlertNet, UK
Nepal finalizes new national anthem People's Daily Online, China
Top Nepal Maoists freed Hindustan Times, India
Measuring how clean water improves health in Nepal Kansas City Star, MO
19 Percent Infected With HIV In Nepal Are Housewives