Sunday, December 16, 2012

Proposed Constitution

  • A directly elected Prime Minister to serve a four year term for a maximum of two terms. If no candidate gets more than 50% of the votes cast there is a second round between the top two candidates.
  • A ceremonial president elected by all elected officials at all levels of government.
  • Three states: Koshi, Gandaki, Karnali. Keep the current 75 districts. This might be best for rapid economic growth. Hydro is where it's at.
  • Half the parliamentary constituencies in the Terai because half the people live there.
  • A Lower House with 201 members, an Upper House with 51 members.
  • The state legislatures have only one chamber. 
  • The 75 districts will be the 75 multi-member constituencies. But I have a feeling the parties want to keep the first past the post system. That and the proportional representation thing they did for the last constituent assembly.
  • One third of seats reserved for women at all levels.
  • 49% reservation for the DaMaJaMa in all new vacancies in the state apparatus until equity is achieved.
  • Tri-lingual education system in both public and private schools. First language (or any other language spoken in Nepal if Nepali is the first language), Nepali and English.
  • State funded parties. All parties that earned at least 1% of the votes get a sum that is directly proportional to how many votes it earned in the last parliamentary elections. Parties may not otherwise raise money.
Compromise Formula: 75 Multi Member Constituencies, Fully PR Election

Nov 11, 2007: Proposed Constitution
May 26, 2007: Proposed Constitution
Jun 28, 2006: Interim Constitution Draft
Jan 01, 2006: Proposed Republican Constitution
Nov 17, 2005: Proposed Constitution
Aug 08, 2005: Janata Dal Constitution
Jun 18, 2005: Proposed Constitution
May 03, 2005: Proposed Constitution
Apr 04, 2005: This Inadequate, Improper, Insufficient 1990 Constitution
Enhanced by Zemanta

Agreement Close



Sushil Koirala


Sushil Koirala In Jackson Heights
Sushil Koirala, September 9

NC could accept UCPN (M)'s latest proposal: Deuba
NC could be given government leadership if parties agree to fix a date for CA election and and make appointments to constitutional bodies, including the Election Commission and the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority.
The most important thing is that elections be held in April 2013. I am glad we are about to see some movement to that end.

The all party government under Sushil Koirala has to be an attempt to bring together all the major political forces in the country. That would include the two Maoist parties, and the Upendra Yadav led front. So, all the parties in power right now, plus the Congress and the UML, the breakaway Maoists and the Upendra Yadav front.

Motorable roadway finally reaches remote Mugu in Karnali much to the delight of locals
Dahal confident of parties finalising deals for unity govt by Monday
Consensus agreement will be win-win deal: Sapkota

भट्टराई सरकारले संविधानसभा संशोधन गरेपछि कोइराला प्रधानमन्त्री
Protests will be a test of the opposition’s strength
No CA election unless ethnic issue discarded: KC


Bhattarai says he is ready to make 'sacrifice'



वार्तामा थप लचक हुने एकीकृत माओवादीको निर्णय
कृष्णप्रसाद सिटौलासंग-12.12.12
पोष्टबहादुर बोगटी र बामदेव गौतमसंग-08.12.12

PM Bhattarai warns Prez
It will be my failure if political process fails: PM
Parties would come to agreement soon: PM
Preparations for elections on war-footing: PM
Yadav: Craving for power unfortunate
Watch your step, PM tells Prez
“The only executive authority the President has is endorsing recommendations made by the Cabinet. He should not try to take unilateral decisions,” Bhattarai said.
Japan's LDP, partner on track for two-thirds majority in polls
चुनावको टुंगो छैन, आयोगले तयारी थाल्यो
'आयोगले वैशाखमा हुने चुनावमो पूर्व तयारी गर्दैछ,' निर्वाचन आयुक्त डा. अयोधीप्रसाद यादवले ईकान्तिपुरसित भने, 'सरकारबाट हामी (आयोग) आश्वस्त छौं । चुनावको आधारभूत पूर्वाधार निर्माण भइरहेको छ ।'..... 'निर्वाचन गराउन संविधान, ऐन, कानुन समयमै संशोधन भएर आउनु पर्छ,' आयुक्त यादवले भने, 'करिब एक महिनाभित्र आयोग पदाधिकारीविहीन हुनेछ भन्नेबारे सरकार र दलहरूलाई जानकारी छ । आयोगमा पदाधिकारी नरहे कुनै पनि चुनाव हुनसक्दैन ।' ..... आयोगले यसअघि नै संविधान तथा ऐन कानुनका संशोधन हुनुपर्ने बुँदा किटान गरी सरकारलाई बुझाइसकेको छ । त्यसैगरी आयोगका कार्यवाहक प्रमुख निर्वाचन आयुक्त दोलखबहादुर गुरुङ र आयुक्त यादवको पदावधि आगामी पुस २६ गते पूरा हुनेछ । आयोगका पाँच सदस्यमध्ये तीन सदस्यको पद रिक्त छ ।
मंसिरमा कानुन नआए वैशाखमा चुनाव हुँदैनः आयोग
Enhanced by Zemanta

Friday, December 14, 2012

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Elections In April 2013 A Must


In Nepal, the quest for April elections

The Baburam Bhattarai government is a caretaker government. It must be replaced by a duly elected government at the earliest. And April 2013 is the best time. It is not a good idea to let a caretaker government stay in power for too long.

The old constituent assembly is dead and gone. A parliament not allowed to last for more than four years is not a bad move, and so I do not wish to drag the Supreme Court into controversy, especially when this particular parliament only had a two year life. That was ample time. The politicians of Nepal registered a collective failure.

Reviving that old assembly was never an option.

The president has no constitutional option to sack the Baburam Bhattarai government. But the political parties have the political option to come to a consensus on a replacement. But that consensus has been a nightmare. The very attempt has been foolish. Consensus is a Panchayati concept. It smells of no party rule.

Bi-polarization is a good thing.

The president is 100% responsible for the current gridlock. Once Baburam became a caretaker Prime Minister he did bring an election timetable. It was the president who unwisely refused to pass the election related ordinances. That was wrong. If those election related ordinances are now not passed by the president's office by the end of December that will mean elections will not be held in April 2013. Then we will be staring at November 2013 or, more likely, April 2014. The NC and the UML will have kept Baburam in the Prime Minister's Chair for a year longer than necessary.

Baburam's best option right now is to expand the cabinet to bring in the breakaway Maoists, the Upendra Yadav led front, Ashok Rai, Kumar Rai and others to form a broader alliance for federalism. As a Prime Minister he can reshuffle his cabinet, he can expand his cabinet, of course he can. That is what being the executive head of the country means. A caretaker Prime Minister is still Prime Minister.

The Asteroids Are Key To Unlocking The Gridlock
The Anti Federal Alliance (AFA)
Consensus Is Not Happening
Baburam's Options
Broadening The Ruling Alliance
Enhanced by Zemanta

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

The Asteroids Are Key To Unlocking The Gridlock

This is the Anti Federal Alliance.


This is the Federal Alliance.


And these are the asteroids who belong in the Federal Alliance.


As soon as the asteroids realize they belong in the Federal Alliance, this gridlock game is over. And the federalists march on to first a political victory, and then a sweeping electoral victory.

The Anti Federal Alliance is like the king in 2005. The Federal Alliance is like the seven parties. The asteroids are like the Maoists in 2005. The king needed to be isolated through an alliance of the other two forces. Same thing now.

The Five Development Region Thinking
Consensus Is Not Happening
The NC, Fair Polls And The Game Of Musical Chairs
Baburam's Options
Broadening The Ruling Alliance
Four Poles: One PM, Three DPMs
UCPN (M) to be 'flexible' for consensus

Gachchhadar says he is not in PM race
'Walk for Nepal' organised in New York
Minister Tripathi inspects road expansion work



Dahal under pressure
Imagine PM Narendra Modi
An economic facelift

जनताको म्यान्डेटविना एक मिनेट पनि सरकारमा बस्नु लोकतन्त्रको घाँटी निमोठ्नु हो : उपेन्द्र यादव, अध्यक्ष-मधेशी जनअधिकार फोरम नेपाल
कांग्रेस–एमालेको मधेशप्रति प्रष्ट दृष्टिकोण छैन : सन्तोष मेहता, प्रवक्ता-सद्भावना पार्टी
SC issues show cause notice to Prez over consensus call



Dahal offers PM's post to Madhesi leaders
UML CC meet to go for unity govt
Enhanced by Zemanta

The Anti Federal Alliance (AFA)


Baburam's Options
Broadening The Ruling Alliance

The FDRA hoping for some kind of a consensus with the Anti Federal Alliance would have been like the parties seeking consensus with the king in 2005. The polarization at that point was necessary. That is how progress was made, by making it the king versus the rest. The polarization today is also necessary. This is how federalism will be introduced in Nepal.
Enhanced by Zemanta