Democracy For Nepal

Saturday, December 22, 2012

The President Is 100% Responsible For The Mess

Baburam 10 Times More Qualified Than Sushil
Fair Enough
The Implications Of The Madhesi Party Unification
Beyond The Three Parties

Dahal's So-Called Consensus Efforts

Imagine if Dahal had tried to forge so-called consensus with the seven democratic parties and the king in 2005. Would it have worked? No way. The polarization in 2005 between the monarchy and the rest was necessary for the country to see progress. Three poles had to become two poles. That polarization was necessary.

The polarization today is between the federalists and the anti-federalists. Those who do not see this polarization as necessary to the progress are themselves anti-federalists. In capitulating to the anti-federalists Dahal himself runs the danger of ending up an anti-federalist.

Right now when the federalists have the option to go from strength to strength Dahal's moves are inviting weakness. Dahal might be a closet anti-federalist. Worse, he might be an anti-federalist who does not know he is an anti-federalist. He is being played.

Dahal's Capitulation Is Wrong

Prachanda running around like a headless chicken seeking "consensus" is him overcompensating for the fact he was utterly disrespectful of the president when he was Prime Minister. Now he is the opposite. He is subservient. He is seeking "consensus" on behalf of a president who has no right to impose consensus - basically suggesting his parent party the Nepali Congress has veto power - upon the polity. Political progress will be made through political polarization, not "consensus." You are not going to convince Sushil, Jhalanath, Pashupati and Surya Bahadur to the ways of federalism. You are going to defeat them at the polls.

Baidya, Not Bahun. Badal, Not Bahun

It is worth noting that the breakaway Maoist party is led by a Newar and a Magar. Just like Ashok Rai walked away from Jhalanath, Badal walked away from Prachanda. Upendra Yadav walked away from both a long time ago.

The President Is 100% Responsible For The Mess

The president can not dismiss Baburam Bhattarai. And Baburam can not resign. If he does, the president is forced to do what he did last time, which is to request him to continue in a caretaker capacity. Holding elections as soon as possible is the best way to bring the caretaker government to an end.

Elections In April 2013 A Must

If Ram Baran had not made the mistake of not passing the election related ordinances when they were sent to him, by now we would already have had a newly elected constituent assembly, a newly elected government and, yes, a newly elected president. Ram Baran's been in office for more than four years now. That is half a year too many. July 2008 to December 2012 is four and a half years. His time is up too. Maybe Prachanda will be the next Ram Baran, the next ceremonial president. Or maybe Mahantha Thakur.

Bhattarai has shown plenty of goodwill. Offering to give the Home ministry to the NC and the Finance ministry to the UML was as flexible as the Maoists needed to be. After that lies conspiracy. Any flexibility beyond that is to give in to the anti-federalists and to accept defeat when victory is a 90% possibility.

Two Poles

Prachanda is yet to make peace with the fact that his party split into two. He does not yet recognize the Badal-Baidya group as yet another political party. Similarly his Madhesi allies do not recognize Upendra Yadav, Sharad Singh Bhandari and their alliance. The ruling alliance is not doing enough to help Ashok Rai.

What Prachanda is doing today if translated into 2005 would have been the equivalent of talking to the king while refusing to deal with the seven parties.

The ruling alliance today is like the Maoists in 2005. Federalists out of power - people like Badal-Baidya, Upendra Yadav, Ashok Rai - are like the seven parties. And the NC, UML and the monarchist parties are like the king. There are three poles today like there were in 2005. Progress is to be made by merging two out of three poles. Just like in 2005.

The Anti Federal Alliance (AFA)
Broadening The Ruling Alliance
July 2005: Possible Framework For A Maoist-Democrat Alliance
September 2005: Alliance Of Steel
November 2005: Indian Support For Democrat-Maoist Alliance A Must
ICG Report On The New Alliance
Dynamic Agreement, Concrete Eight Party Alliance

The Madhesis in power would like to act like Upendra Yadav is a nobody and Prachanda would like to act like Badal is a nobody. Those are mistakes being made. The cause of federalism is served when the federalists in and out of power come together.

Prachanda has been talking to the wrong people. Instead of talking to Sushil and Jhalanath he should be talking to Baidya, Badal, Upendra, Ashok and Gopal.

The Big Reason Not To Make Sushil PM

Sushil Koirla is the lousiest party president the Nepali Congress ever had. And it will show when elections are finally held. He is too incompetent to be made PM. Ever since he ascended to the party's presidency the various NC factions have been fighting like it was nobody's business.

Baburam 10 Times More Qualified Than Sushil

Sushil has made no effort whatsoever to build an all party coalition. His only thing is that he should be made PM. Projecting yourself as the PM candidate is a ridiculous way to build an all party coalition.

The guy is incompetent, pure and simple. It is between him and Jhalanath. Both are incompetent people hellbent on taking their parties to total defeat at the polls.

Street Strength

The Nepali Congress is yesterday's party. It does not have what it takes to come out into the streets. Call the bluff.

'Bhattarai out to strengthen own faction'

The eagerly awaited extended meeting of party office-bearers [former standing committee members, bureau in-charges and state committee coordinators] held in Kathmandu on Saturday, also increased the confusion in the Nepali political firmament. ..... At the meeting, the Dahal and Narayankazi Shrestha factions voiced strong criticism against the Bhattarai government´s activities, terming them ´anti-nationalist´. The interesting thing is, countering the accusation of the Dahal and Shrestha factions, Bhattarai faction leaders have proposed Dahal as candidate for PM. But the Dahal faction immediately countered that, saying it was just a ´ploy.´ ....... the Bhattarai faction could make things very hard for Dahal if he pushes such a proposal. He would be acused of being anti-federalist. Bhattarai faction leaders have been projecting Koirala as anti-constituent assembly and anti-federalism but this is indirectly aimed at Dahal. ...... The Dahal and Shrestha factions criticized the Bhattarai government, saying it entered into anti-national agreements with India. Deputy Prime Minster Shrestha himself has criticized the awarding of tenders for Tribhuvan International Airport and Upper Karnali to India.

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प्याकेजमा सहमतिका लागि मोर्चाको ९ बुँदे प्रस्ताव

तत्कालिन राज्य पुनः संरचना तथा शक्तिको बाँडफाँड समितिले तयार गरेको १४ प्रदेश, राज्य पुनःसंरचना आयोगले प्रस्तुत गरेको १० र अल्पमतको रुपमा आएको ६ प्रदेशको प्रस्तावमा सहमति नभएकाले त्यसलाई विवादित रुपमै ग्रहण गरी अन्तिम निर्णय आगामी संविधानसभाबाट गरिनुपर्ने मोर्चाको धारणा छ । .... सहमतिका आधारमा संवैधानिक निकायमा रिक्त पदहरुमा नियुक्ति तथा शान्ति प्रक्रियाका बाँकी कामहरु पूरा गरिनुपर्ने

In a first, Bhattarai asks Dahal to take up top job, if that helps

Dahal briefed the meeting on the progress made in the cross-party talks on a package deal to hold polls in April-May.He said the opposition parties have agreed to amend the Interim Constitution, fix the election date, make appointments to constitutional bodies under the incumbent government and take the ownership of the issues agreed upon by the dissolved Constituent Assembly. In the meeting, PM Bhattarai said the party chairman “was not committed to the party’s official stance.” .... “The chairman is simply being too flexible with the opposition parties at the cost of the party’s agenda,” a leader quoted Bhattarai as saying.

Bhattarai rigid; NC-led govt not on the horizon

“If I step down without the elections being guaranteed, a crisis will hit the country,” Bhattarai said. PM Bhattarai dismissed claims made by Dahal that the parties are inching closer to that end..... “There may have been some progress in informal cross-party talks, but nothing substantial has come out of it,” said Bhattarai.

MK Nepal holds PM responsible for deadlock
सत्तामा रहिरहने भट्टराईको शक्तिको स्रोत के ?

विपक्षीहरूले त आठ महिनादेखि नै प्रधानमन्त्री बाबुराम भट्टराई नेतृत्वको सरकारविरुद्ध मोर्चाबन्दी गरिरहेका छन् । त्यही मोर्चाबन्दीमा थपिन आइपुग्यो प्रधानमन्त्रीकै दल एमाओवादीबाट अलग्गिएको नेकपा-माओवादी र मधेसी जनअधिकार फोरम लोकतान्त्रिकबाट फुटेको राष्ट्रिय मधेस समाजवादी पार्टी । केही दिनयता त उपाध्यक्ष भट्टराई पक्षधरबाहेक एमाओवादी नै सरकारको विकल्प खोज्न थालेको छ । तर प्रधानमन्त्री भनिरहेका छन्, 'म छाड्दिनँ ।' .... मधेसवादी दलको एउटा हिस्सा र केही स-साना पार्टीमात्र यतिखेर उनको पक्षमा छन् । ..... एमाले उपाध्यक्ष वामदेव गौतमका अनुसार भट्टराईले भन्ने गरेका छन्, 'दक्षिणी छिमेकी भारतीय सद्भाव, सत्तारूढ मधेसी मोर्चाको समर्थन, नेपाली सेनाको विश्वास र पार्टीका पुराना निर्णय मेरा शक्तिका स्रोत हुन् । यस्तो अनुकूल अवस्थामा मैले किन छाड्ने ?' ...... २०६७ सालमा एमाओवादी अध्यक्षलाई सात पटकसम्मको प्रधानमन्त्रीको प्रतिस्पर्धामा असहयोग गरेको मोर्चाले अर्को वर्ष नै भट्टराईलाई सहजै सहयोग गरेको थियो । कतिसम्म भने एमाओवादीले भट्टराईलाई उम्मेदवार तय नगर्दै मोर्चा नेता विजयकुमार गच्छदारले २०६८ भदौ २ गते अबको प्रधानमन्त्री बाबुराम भट्टराई हुन् भनेर सार्वजनिक अभिव्यक्ति नै दिएका थिए । ...... सरकारमा ठूलो सहभागिता र महत्त्वपूर्ण मन्त्रालय पाएकाले पनि मोर्चाले भट्टराईको साथ छाड्न नचाहेको हो । ........ प्रधानमन्त्रीको प्याकेजमा वैशाखमा संविधानसभाको चुनाव गर्ने, निर्वाचनका लागि संविधान संशोधन गर्न बाधा अड्काउ फुकाउने, निर्वाचनलगायत संवैधानिक आयोगहरूमा नियुक्ति गर्ने, शान्ति प्रक्रियाका बाँकी काम सेना समायोजनमा दर्जा निर्धारण गर्ने, सत्य निरूपण तथा मेलमिलाप आयोग गठन गर्नेलगायतमा सहमति भइसकेपछि राष्ट्रिय सरकार दुई चरणमा गठन गर्ने आदि विषय समेटिएका छन् । त्यसका लागि केही समय आफ्नै नेतृत्वको सरकारमा कांग्रेस-एमालेलगायतलाई सहभागी गराई राष्ट्रिय सरकार बनाउने र त्यसपछि सरकारको नेतृत्व कांग्रेसलाई दिने अडान लिए । .... 'बाबुरामजीलाई अछूत मान्ने, निषेध गर्ने अनि त्यही बाबुरामले माला लगाइदिएर कांग्रेसलाई प्रधानमन्त्री बनाइदिनुपर्ने ? यो हुनै सक्दैन । .... कांग्रेस नेता शेखर कोइराला देखिने हिसाबले मधेसी मोर्चा नै भट्टराईको प्रमुख शक्ति भएको मान्छन् । ..... प्रधानमन्त्री भट्टराई र प्रधानसेनापति गौरवशमशेर जबराबीच राम्रो सम्बन्ध छ । तेस्रो व्यक्तिसँगको कुराकानीमा उनीहरू एकअर्काको मुक्तकण्ठले प्रशंसा गर्छन् । प्रधानसेनापति हुनुअघिदेखि नै दुईबीच राम्रै हिमचिम थियो । सेनाको दोस्रो वरीयतामा रहेका जबराले भट्टराई प्रधानमन्त्री भएलगत्तै भेटेर गुरुचरन दासको 'द डिफिकल्टी अफ बिइङ गुड' शीर्षकको पुस्तक उपहार दिएका थिए । नेपाली मामिलामा भारतीय भूमिका बुझ्ने सवालमा पनि दुवैको समान दृष्टिकोण रहँदै आएको छ । ..... पछिल्ला राजनीतिक छलफलमा प्रधानमन्त्रीले सेना आफ्नो पक्षमा रहेको अभिव्यक्ति दिने गरेका छन् । ..... उनलाई प्रधानमन्त्रीको उम्मेदवारमा पार्टीको केन्द्रीय कमिटीले प्रस्ताव गरेको थियो । र, पार्टीको पछिल्लो निर्णय पनि भट्टराईकै नेतृत्वमा राष्ट्रिय सरकार बनाउन पहल गर्ने भन्ने छ । त्यसैले भट्टराईले पार्टी केन्द्रीय कमिटीले संस्थागत रूपमा गरेको निर्णय कुनै व्यक्ति विशेष (अध्यक्ष) वा समूह (पदाधिकारी) ले उल्ट्याउन नसक्ने बताउने गरेका छन् । साथै सरकार निर्माणमा सहयोग गर्ने मधेसी मोर्चा र साना दलसँग पनि परामर्श गर्नुपर्ने उनको तर्क छ । ..... 'राजनीतिक रूपले कमजोर बन्दै गए पनि राष्ट्रपतिले उनलाई हटाउन सक्ने अवस्था छैन । संवैधानिक र कानुनी रूपमा पनि त्यसको वैधता हुँदैन । भट्टराई यस्तै प्राविधिक कारणले टिकेका हुन्' .... अहिले राष्ट्रपति र प्रधानमन्त्रीको मात्र संवैधानिक हैसियत छ । त्यसैले एकले अर्कोलाई क्रस गर्न सक्दैन ।

राष्ट्रपतिको जम्बो भ्रमण टोलीमा छोरा, छोरी, बुहारी र नाति

राष्ट्रपतिको भ्रमण दल २६ सदस्यीय छ । धेरैजसो सदस्य राष्ट्राध्यक्षको भ्रमणमा सामेल गरिनुको कुनै अर्थ नरहेको स्रोतले उल्लेख गरेको छ । भ्रमण दलमा उनकै परिवारका सदस्य र सहयोगीको संख्या ठूलो छ । .... राष्ट्रपतिसित छोरी अनिता, छोरा चन्द्रमोहन, बुहारी रेश्मी र नाति नमन छन् । राष्ट्राध्यक्ष या सरकार प्रमुखले विदेश भ्रमणमा जाँदा पत्नी या पत्नी नभए छोरा या छोरी एक जनामात्र लाने विश्वव्यापी परम्परा छ । .... मन्त्रिपरिषद्ले भ्रमण दलमा सरकारकातर्फबाट सिँचाइमन्त्री महेन्द्र यादवलाई पठाउने निर्णय गरेको छ । .... राष्ट्रपतिको नयाँदिल्लीमा स्वास्थ्य जाँच गर्ने कार्यक्रमसमेत छ । उनी मधुमेह रोग, आँखाको समस्यालगायतबाट पीडित छन् । राष्ट्रपति शुक्रबार स्वदेश र्फकनेछन् । उनको यो तेस्रो भारत भ्रमण हो ।

दाहाल-भट्टराई मतभेद उस्तै

भट्टराईले दलहरूबीच तुरुन्त सहमति गर्नुपर्ने आवश्यकता भए पनि त्यसो नभए कुनै अर्को शक्ति आउन नसक्ने ठोकुवा गरेका थिए । 'हतारमा वैधानिक सरकार छाड्नु भनेको दुर्घटना निम्त्याउनु हो' ..... प्रवक्ता अग्नि सापकोटा र प्रधानमन्त्रीका राजनीतिक सल्लाहकार देवेन्द्र पौडेलले दुई नेताबीच आधारभूत रूपमा समानता भएको भन्दै सहमति गरेरै अघि बढ्ने बताए ।

एमाओवादी निर्णय पर्खिंदै कांग्रेस-एमाले

एमाले उपाध्यक्ष वामदेव गौतमका अनुसार दाहालका प्रस्तावमा वैशाखमा चुनाव गने, बाबुराम भट्टराई नेतृत्वकै सरकारले संविधान, ऐन र नियमावली संशोधनसम्बन्धी बाधा अड्काउ फुकाउने आदेश सिफारिस गर्ने, विभिन्न आयोगहरू गठन गर्ने, विघटित संविधानसभामा दलहरूबीच भएका सहमतिलाई फेरि प्रतिबद्घता जनाउनेलगायतमा करिब सहमति भइसकेको छ । ..... उक्त प्रस्तावमा भट्टराई नेतृत्वको सरकारमा केही समय कांग्रेस-एमाले पनि सहभागी हुनुपर्ने बुँदा पनि समावेश भएकाले त्यसमा मात्र सहमति रोकिइरहेको गौतमले बताए । .... विपक्षी दलहरूले दलीय पद्घतिमा व्यक्तिगत असहमतिको अर्थ नरहने उल्लेख गर्दै राजनीतिक पार्टीहरूबीच सहमति गरी राष्ट्रपतिकहाँ प्रधानमन्त्रीको नाम सिफारिस गर्न सकिने प्रस्तावसमेत एमाओवादीसँग लगिसकेका छन् । तर एमाओवादी अध्यक्ष पुष्पकमल दाहालले पार्टीभित्र अप्ठ्यारो परेकाले बैठकका निर्णय नआउँदासम्म नहतारिन विपक्षी दलहरूलाई आग्रह गरिरहेका छन् ।

मातृका हतियार उठाउने तयारीमा No NC, UML leadership in new govt come what may: UDMF leader

"There is an unanimous view among the leaders to transforming the present government into a national consensus coalition under Baburam Bhattarai´s leadership" .... the Madhes-based parties wouldn´t accept leadership of Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML terming them as anti-federalists´ parties. "We won´t accept NC and UML leadership for the new government even if Baburam Bhattarai becomes ready for that" ..... Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D), Tarai-Madesh Democratic Party (TMDP), TMDP-Nepal, MPRF-Republican and SP are member parties of the Front.

Maoists, UDMF to leave govt only after package deal
Madhesi Front floats 9-pt proposal for consensus

fresh Constituent Assembly elections should be held in Baisakh (April-May) and that the Prime Minister should resign if he failed to conduct the elections by then. Likewise, the Front said that the tenure of the would-be CA should be five years, which would turn into legislature parliament only after the promulgation of the constitution. ...... On constitution, the UDMF has proposed to present the proposals tabled in the erstwhile CA including the recommendations of the State Restructuring Commission on the federal model in the new CA. Likewise, the Front said the 240 directly elected seats should be maintained while the number of proportionally elected seats need to be decided on the basis of consensus. .... the UDMF's first priority will be to turn the current Baburam Bhattarai-led government into a consensus election government or, as second option, form a consensus government headed by another leader of the ruling Federal Democratic Republican Alliance. In the third option, the UDMF will support any party that accepts its proposal to take government leadership

सहमति जुट्ने विश्वास
Can Nepal's Republic Be Saved?
Prachanda-Bhattarai rift prolongs Nepal crisis

Agitation if no consensus by Saturday: Poudel
UCPN (M) extended CC meeting fails to take decision, deferred till Saturday
UCPN (Maoist) unlikely to support Koirala's PM candidacy
Being confused for Indian

प्याकेजमा सहमति नभै छाड्दिनं: प्रधानमन्त्री

अध्यक्ष प्रचण्ड र आफुबीच रहेको मतभेद स्वीकार्दै उनले भने, "हामीबीच एकता प्रधान संघर्षको सम्बन्ध हो, थुप्रै विषयमा हामीबीच बहस जारी छ।" .... राष्ट्रिय सहमतिको सरकारले निर्वाचनको मिति घोषणा गर्नुपर्छ। पहिलो चरणमा हाम्रो नेतृत्वमा आउनोस्, दोश्रो चरणमा विपक्षीहरुको नेतृत्वमा जान हामी तयार छौं। त्यसले विश्वास बनाउँछ"

Everest captured in two billion pixel image detail
The Image
Top leaders assure of consensus to prez by Saturday
FDRA to work to bring NC, UML into govt

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Baburam 10 Times More Qualified Than Sushil

This is strictly talking in terms of personal qualities. Baburam is the obvious democratic choice as a duly elected PM and the choice of the largest party in the last elected assembly in the country, and the face of the largest political alliance in the country today. But that is not what I am talking about here. Sometimes what happens is a super qualified person does not get the top job because that person might be in some small party, as in the case with Nitish Kumar in India. The guy is the most qualified to be the next PM of India, but his party is rather small.

Based on personal qualities Baburam is 10 times, at least 10 times, more qualified than Sushil to be PM. Even Girija was better than Sushil. And Girija never struck me as the smartest kid on the block.

Baburam is more qualified than Prachanda to be PM. He is more qualified than Mahantha Thakur. Although Mahantha Thakur is more qualified than Sushil. If the NC were not an anti Madhesi party, Mahanthan Thakur not Sushil would be party president of the NC today.

On that note Baburam is also 10 times more qualified than Bijay Gachhadar.

I don't understand why the NC is pushing the Sushil Koirala name. The guy is not more qualified than Baburam for the job. I have been watching him run his party. He has not been doing a good job. If he were to be made PM right away I think he is sure to bungle the elections that are supposed to happen in April 2013.

Fair Enough
The Implications Of The Madhesi Party Unification
Beyond The Three Parties
Elections In April 2013 A Must
The Asteroids Are Key To Unlocking The Gridlock
The Anti Federal Alliance (AFA)
Consensus Is Not Happening
Baburam's Options
Broadening The Ruling Alliance
Four Poles: One PM, Three DPMs

The Nitish Magic
The NDA Option For Nitish
A Roadmap For Nitish
Nitish Is My Lula
Nitish Kumar, Broadband And Clean Energy
Paramendra Kumar Batting For Nitish Kumar
Could Nitish Kumar Do Broadband?
Nitish Kumar's JD(U) Has National Appeal
Nitish Kumar, Bihar
Nitish Kumar: Prime Minister

FDRA to work to bring NC, UML into govt

"The alliance´s first priority is to tranform the present government into a consensus coalition. Our second priority is to hand over the government leadership to any other leader from within the alliance" .... the alliance is of one voice on the decision.

PM says he is not hindering consensus

"The allegation that I have been setting one condition after another is entirely baseless because I have agreed to step down after forging a package deal with regard to ending the political stalemate. I still firmly stand by the same position"

Thugs barge into Republic Media office, manhandle journos
NWC demands investigation into Hasami family
UCPN (Maoist) calls extended meeting
Top leaders apprise Prez of consensus efforts
Bhattarai boycotts party meeting
No big rift between Dahal and Bhattarai

there is no question of taking part in an election decided without taking us into confidence. We won’t accept any agreement limited to three or four parties. .... by and large, we have been left out of current negotiations. ...... One, UCPN (Maoist) has been saying that there is no need for ‘new people’s revolution’ in the changed context, while we are firmly in favor of it. Two, we will emphasize the issue of national sovereignty in our general convention, while the other party is unlikely to give this issue much importance. Besides these, the other party has decided to move ahead with the agenda of ‘federal democratic republic’ while we will continue to empathize ‘people’s federal republic’. On the political front, we believe UCPN (Maoist) made grave mistakes and contributed to CA’s failure, while they are not ready to admit to any such mistake. These might be some points of differences. ...... The rationale for the split in the Maoist party is amply clear in party documents and in the behavior of UCPN (Maoist) leaders. So far as the issue of unity is concerned, there is no such possibility at the moment.

देवी खड्का,गगन थापा र योगेश भट्टराईसंग-16.12.12
राजकिशोर यादव,बिष्णु बहादुर के. सी. र उपेन्द्र केशरी न्यौपानेसंग-09.12.12
सत्तारुढ गठबन्धन पूरानै निर्णयमा अडिग
दाहाल र भट्टराईबीच मतभेद बढ्यो

राजेन्द्र महतोले प्याकेजमा सहमतिबिना समस्या हल नहुने बताए । 'बाबुरामजीलाई अछूत मान्ने अनि त्यही बाबुरामजीले कांग्रेसलाई माला लगाइदिनुपर्ने ? केही समय कांग्रेस, एमाले यही सरकारमा आएर निषेधको राजनीति त्याग्नुपर्छ । त्यससँगै निर्वाचनसम्बन्धी सबै विषयमा सहमति हुन्छ,' उनले भने, 'संघीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्रात्मक संविधान लेखिने ग्यारेन्टीसहित नयाँ निर्वाचनमा जानुपर्छ भन्नेमा मोर्चा एकजुट छ ।' प्रधानमन्त्री भट्टराईले निर्वाचनसम्बन्धी ऐन, कानुन संशोधन गर्ने, निर्वाचन आयोगका पदाधिकारी नियुक्त गर्ने, निर्वाचनको मिति तोक्ने र सुनिश्चितता गर्ने तथा त्यसका लागि केही समय कांग्रेस, एमालेलगायत विपक्षी पनि यही सरकारमा आउनुपर्ने जस्ता विषयमा प्याकेजमै सहमति हुनुपर्ने अडान लिँदै आएका छन् । अन्य विषयमा सहमति जनाए पनि केही समयका लागि यही सरकारमा जाने कुरालाई भने विपक्षीले अस्वीकार गर्दै आएका छन् । .... महाधिवेशनबारे बिहीबार अध्यक्ष दाहाल र भट्टराईबीच छलफल हुने बताउँछन् ।

प्रधानमन्त्रीको सर्तले अप्ठ्यारो भो: दाहाल

एमाओवादी अध्यक्ष पुष्पकमल दाहालसमेत सहभागी भएको तीन दलका शीर्ष नेताको बैठकले प्रधानमन्त्री बाबुराम भट्टराई र मधेसी मोर्चाका कारण सहमतिमा गतिरोध पैदा भएको निष्कर्ष निकालेको छ । ..... पार्टीभित्रको आन्तरिक कारण र मधेसी मोर्चासँग समेतको सहयोगका कारण प्रधानमन्त्रीले अघि सारेको सर्तलाई चिरेर जान आफूलाई समस्या परिरहेको दाहालले बताएका छन् । शीर्ष नेताहरूको बुधबार बिहान भएको गोप्य छलफलमा दाहालले आफ्नै पार्टीभित्र र मोर्चाबाट सिर्जित समस्याका कारण आफूलाई अप्ठ्यारो परेको बताएका थिए । ..... एमाओवादी अध्यक्ष दाहालसहित भएको छलफल क्रममा पनि निर्वाचनमा जान बाधा अड्काउ फुकाउने, निर्वाचन आयोगमा पदाधिकारी नियुक्ति, निर्वाचनको मिति, संविधानसभाको आकार र राष्ट्रिय सहमतीय सरकारको नेतृत्व सहितको विषयलाई प्याकेजमा सहमति गरेर प्रधानमन्त्री बाबुराम भट्टराईमार्फत राष्ट्रपतिकामा सिफारिस गर्ने बाटोलाई पहिलो प्राथमिकता दिइएको छ । निर्वाचनका लागि संवैधानिक र कानुनी प्रबन्ध मिलाउने र निर्वाचन आयोगका आयुक्तहरू नियुक्तिका लागि बाधा अड्काउ फुकाउन मन्त्रिपरिषद्बाटै सिफारिस गर्नुपर्छ । अन्य विषय सीधै पठाउँदा पनि हुन्छ । प्रधानमन्त्री यसमा सहमत भए पहिला बाधा अड्काउ फुकाएर निर्वाचनको मिति तोक्ने काम हुनेछ । त्यसपछि राष्ट्रिय सहमतिको सरकारको प्रक्रिया सुरु हुनेछ । तर, ती सबै काम एक दिन गर्ने प्रस्ताव हुनेछ ।

Fair Enough

Baburam Bhattarai's suggestion that the NC and the UML should join the current government and that joint government should make all changes necessary to make elections possible, and only then for him to hand over government leadership to the NC was a fair one. But the NC insisted that government leadership be handed over first. That smelled of foul play. To me it felt like the NC wants to grab the PM's chair so as to not bother with holding elections at all. That would have been a nightmare situation. I am glad that has been avoided.

Now the president has no option but to pass Baburam's election related ordinances as a reward to his having made all efforts to forge consensus. It is that or it is Baburam all the way to April 2014. I don't like the idea.

Looks like the Madhesi Morcha came to the rescue. It is because the Madhesi Morcha is much more interested in federalism than even the Maoists. The Madhesi Morcha smelled rat.

Elections In April 2013 A Must
Beyond The Three Parties
Agreement Close
Former Chief Justice Ram Prasad Shrestha
The Asteroids Are Key To Unlocking The Gridlock
The Anti Federal Alliance (AFA)

Present govt should be given national structure: FDRA

With the decision, political crisis in the country has further deepened. ..... "The meeting concluded that if the present government fails to gain national structure, the government's leadership should be given to one of the parties from the alliance."

Deal at threat as PM, Dahal rift widens

the PM's move in the afternoon was a payback as the party boss had declined his early request for a one-on-one in the morning. .... Some leaders urged Maoist Cabinet ministers to quit the Bhattarai government en masse if “Bhattarai continued to violate the party decision” for an early poll. The meeting entrusted Dahal to hold “serious dialogue” with his deputy and urge him to uphold the party's decision. ..... Leaders from the Bhattarai faction, however, said the party's first priority should be transforming the incumbent government into a national consensus one and the second to seek a prime ministerial candidate within the coalition should consensus elude for Bhattarai's continuity. A leader close to Bhattarai said Dahal is exerting pressure on Bhattarai to quit, which he said is against the party's decision. ...... PM's Political Advisor Devendra Poduel said the party has plunged into a dispute after Dahal tried to hand over the government leadership to the NC without a package deal among the parties.

Ring Road upgradation from next March

the road improvement project will upgrade the current four-lane road to eight lanes with a four-lane carriageway that will also include a two-way relief road, two-way bicycle track and two-way pedestrian path.

'SLMM to support party committed to past pacts'
Unity govt under Bhattarai best option, says ruling alliance

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

The Implications Of The Madhesi Party Unification

In the last election the Madhesi parties did better than they ever had. But they still got less than half of what they should have gotten. If there were 600 seats overall, there were 300 seats in the Terai. The Madhesi parties together got about 80. That is 80 out of 300. There is a long way to go.

Now they are better positioned because the Nepali Congress is in an even worse position today. Post 1990 the thinking in the Terai was you might not like the Nepali Congress but that is the party that will end up in power, so you might as well rally behind. That incumbency has now shifted to the Madhesi parties. It is the Madhesi parties that are in power. It is them that will return to power after elections are held. That rationale will help the Madhesi parties wipe out the Nepali Congress, a party that was damaged but not wiped out the last time around.

Even if the Madhesi parties do not unify, even if they only build an electoral alliance, they are likely to cross 100 seats. My guess is they will approach somewhere between 100 and 150. But if they are unified they will approach 200 seats. They might even cross that 200 mark.

But something interesting has happened in the meantime. Upendra Yadav's alliance has ethnic parties that are in the hills. And so the unified Madhesi party will no longer be a Madhesi party, it will be a national party. That crossover is a big deal. That not only expands the base of the Madhesi politicians into the hills, that also brings about a cultural crossover in the Terai itself. 40% of the people in the Terai are not Madhesi. There are Pahadis - Bahun, Chhetri - and there are Janajatis. Upendra Yadav, in the act, has also proven he deserves to be leading the unified party. Rajendra Mahto has a mass base as well, he has also ventured into the hills. That's a party Vice President right there.

That cultural crossover is a big plus point.

Another advantage of unification is it will force the Madhesi leaders who have come from both Congress and communist backgrounds to get past those ideological baggages, also reflected in leadership styles, to forge something new. One criticism of Upendra Yadav has been his leadership style is dictatorial. Communists might call that discipline. To people of Upendra Yadav's ideological background - a former communist, a former Maoist - people like Mahantha Thakur and JP Gupta come across as chaotic, disorganized, haphazard. You only have to take one look at how the Nepali Congress is and you will see. Half the time you feel like Sher Bahadur Deuba never accepted Sushil Koirala as the party leader. The Congress thrives on that kind of indiscipline. They think that shows there is democracy inside the party.

The exercise of unification will do the Madhesi politicians a lot of good. Right now the attempt should be to also get Upendra Yadav to join the ruling coalition, even as the leader of a separate front.

Unification can not be written off just yet. Even if attempts fail that might still make room for an electoral alliance. Without the electoral alliance the Madhesi parties might struggle to repeat their performance of the past election. Worse, they might end up hurting the cause of federalism.

When you put together a collage of Madhesi leaders you don't see Dalit and female faces. That is ground the Madhesi parties are ceding to the Maoists in the Terai. That is not wise.

TMDP, MPRF Unification: Huge
Madhesi, Janajati parties float 'Federal Democratic Front'
Federal Democratic Front-Nepal formed

seven parties .... The front has decided to form three different task forces to draft a declaration of unification of parties, the statute of the party and its political programme. ..... Parshuram Tamang, chairman of Tamsaling Nepal National Party (TNNP)..... if we remained as we were, we would never gain strength and would always be considered regional parties, we have come together to form a strong party that can work as an alternative to the so-called big parties .... the front would turn into a brand new party within the next three months .... more than 13 forces had forged agreement to join the front but we happened to be only seven today due to some technical errors among the parties. They will join the front very soon,” he said, adding that they have also held several rounds of dialogue with the Ashok Rai-led progressive group of CPN-UML and the Kumar Rai-led group of Nepali Congress.

Nepal’s Maoists, Madhesis form federal alliance

दाहालको प्रस्ताव 'ललिपप’ : मधेसी दल

मोर्चा स्रोतका अनुसार शनिबार कांग्रेसका नेताद्वय कृष्णप्रसाद सिटौला र मिनेन्द्र रिजालले ठाकुरसँग प्रत्यक्ष सम्पर्क गर्न खोजे पनि उनी जनकपुरमा भएकाले सम्भव भएन ।

मधेसी मोर्चाद्वारा स्वागत न विरोध
एक होलान् मधेसी दल ?

शुक्लसहित वृजेशकुमार गुप्ता र जेपी यादवको वार्ता टोलीले मधेसी जनअधिकार फोरम नेपालसँग चार चरण एकीकरणको विषयमा छलफल गरेको छ भने अध्यक्ष ठाकुर र फोरम नेपाल अध्यक्ष उपेन्द्र यादवबीच पनि बाक्लै छलफल भएको छ । 'एकीकरण प्रक्रियाबारे पर्याप्त छलफल भएको छ,' फोरम अध्यक्ष यादवले कान्तिपुरसित भने, 'एक-अर्कालाई बुझ्न र अघि बढ्न यसले सहयोग पुर्‍याएको छ ।' ..... फोरम नेपालबाहेक सबै मधेसी दलहरूसँग वार्ता गर्न बनाइएको भौतिक योजनामन्त्रीसमेत रहेका त्रिपाठीसहित जितेन्द्र सोनार र पुष्पा ठाकुरको टोलीले मधेसी जनअधिकार फोरम (लोकतान्त्रिक) का अध्यक्ष एवं गृहमन्त्री विजयकुमार गच्छदार र वार्ताका लागि उक्त पार्टीले तोकेको उपाध्यक्ष रामेश्वर राय, महासचिव जितेन्द्रनारायण देव, रामजनम चौधरी र मृगेन्द्रकुमार सिंह यादवलगायतसँग छलफल गरेको छ । ..... एकीकरणकै विषयमा अध्यक्ष ठाकुरले गच्छदारसहित मधेसी जनअधिकार फोरम (गणतान्त्रिक) का कार्यवाहक अध्यक्ष एवं सञ्चारमन्त्री राजकिशोर यादव, सद्भावना अध्यक्ष एवं स्वास्थ्यमन्त्री राजेन्द्र महतो र राष्ट्रिय मधेस समाजवादी पार्टीका अध्यक्ष शरतसिंह भण्डारीलगायतसँग छलफल गरिसकेका छन् । दसैं सुरु भइसकेकाले अहिले छलफल रोकिएको छ । दसैंलगत्तै फेरि वार्ता जारी हुनेछ । .... फोरम नेपाल र तमलोपाबीच एकीकरणको सम्भावना सबैभन्दा नजिक पुगेको छ ...... फोरम नेपाल र तमलोपाबीच केन्द्रीय कार्यसमिति, नाम, चुनाव चिह्न, पार्टीको सिद्धान्त र अवधारणाबारे व्यापक छलफल भएको छ । भण्डारी अध्यक्ष रहेको राष्ट्रिय मधेस समाजवादी पार्टी (रामसपा) र फोरम नेपाल एकै मोर्चामा भएकाले रामसपा र तमलोपाबीच पनि एकीकरण सहज देखिन्छ । एकीकरण भए केही समयअघि घोषित 'संघीय लोकतान्त्रिक मोर्चा' मा आबद्ध दलहरू पनि समेटिने सम्भावना छ । मोर्चामा ५ वटा जनजाति पार्टी छन् । ...... तराई मधेसमा पछिल्लो अवस्थामा तमलोपा, फोरम नेपाल, रामसपा र राजेन्द्र महतो अध्यक्ष रहेको सद्भावनाको पकड देखिन्छ । संविधानसभा जारी रहेकै बखत बनेका पार्टीहरू उद्योगमन्त्री अनिल झा अध्यक्ष रहेको संघीय सद्भावना, रामनरेश राय अध्यक्ष रहेको राष्ट्रिय सद्भावना, महेन्द्र राय यादव अध्यक्ष रहेको तमलोपा नेपाल, सञ्चारमन्त्री राजकिशोर यादव अध्यक्ष रहेको फोरम गणतान्त्रिक, सरिता गिरी अध्यक्ष रहेको सद्भावना (आनन्दीदेवी) लगायतका साना दलको जनस्तरमा पकड देखिन्न । ....... फोरम -लोकतान्त्रिक) सँग एकीकरणका लागि त्रिपाठी संयोजकत्वको टोलीले वार्ता गरिरहे पनि ऊसँगको वार्ता भने त्यत्ति नजिक पुगेको छैन । एकीकरण हुँदा कुनै बेला एउटै पार्टीमा रहेका उपेन्द्र यादव र शरतसिंह भण्डारीसँगै हुने भएकाले पनि गच्छदार तत्कालै एकीकरणका लागि तयार देखिन्नन् । ..... तत्कालै गच्छदारको पार्टी बाहेकलाई एकीकृत गराउन सके पनि मधेसमा हैसियत प्राप्त दल बन्ने तमलोपा अध्यक्ष ठाकुरको बुझाइ छ । त्यसो त, यो परिस्थितिमा चुनाव भइहाले मधेसमा धेरै दल भएको हिसाबले मधेसीका कोटामा धेरै सिट हात नपर्ने स्पष्ट नै छ ।

बृहत मधेसी मोर्चामा फुट
फोरम लोकतान्त्रिकको संसदीय दलमा झडप

'SLMM to support party committed to past pacts'
Secret talks held for PM's dignified exit
Basnyat, a ‘controversial genius’
NC floats ‘holistic’ proposal to confront burning issues
PM derailed consensus: NC
आज दिनभर राजनीतिक सक्रियता तिब्र
मधेससंगको सबै सहमति माने समर्थन

उनीहरुले एमाओवादी, का“ग्रेस र एमालेबीच मात्र भएको सहमति नमान्ने पनि जनाएको छ ।

प्रचण्ड र प्रधानमन्त्रीबीच मतभेद
चुनावको निर्णय कार्यान्वयनमा तदारुकता देखाउन राष्ट्रपतिको आग्रह

Three-party leaders to President: Consensus is in sight Bhattarai snubs UCPN(M) office bearers' meet
Dahal courts UML leaders as Bhattarai's stance triggers fresh row

Earlier, Dahal had forwarded an eight-point proposal to UML which included announcement of the date for elections in Baisakh (April-May), constitutional amendments necessary to hold the elections, appointment of office-bearers in constitutional bodies, owning up of the issues finalised by the dissolved Constituent Assembly and participation of the opposition parties in Bhattarai-led government for a brief period before handover of government leadership to the Nepali Congress, among others. ..... "The UML accepted all the points except for one about turning Bhattarai into a consensus government before leadership handover," a UML source said, "UML and NC are not ready to join the Bhattarai government even for a day."

Party decision binding on all members: UCPN (M) Spokesperson
Nepal's illicit capital flight totals $8 billion in 10 years

crime, corruption, and tax evasion cost the developing world 858.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2010

Ethnic parties demand CA revival
PM denies role in Timila's appointment

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Beyond The Three Parties

I don't see how it is possible for there to be national consensus if the Madhesi Morcha, the Badal-Baidya group of Maoists, and the Upendra Yadav led front are not taken into confidence. National consensus is not just the NC, the UML and the Prachanda-Baburam group of Maoists.

Prachanda and Baburam might agree to the Sushil Koirala name but if the NC will not accept the Badal name why would Badal-Baidya accept the Sushil Koirala name? If the NC will not accept the Mahantha Thakur name, why will the Madhesi Morcha accept the Sushil Koirala name? And Upendra Yadav is a legitimate candidate himself. He symbolizes the Madhesi Kranti like few other individuals.

If Prachanda is willing to accept Sushil Koirala as PM when Prachanda's party is bigger than that of Sushil, then why is Sushil not willing to accept Mahantha Thakur even though the Madhesi Morcha is smaller than the NC? Or at least was in the last election. That is a valid question.

देश सहमतितिर अघि बढ्यो: प्रचण्ड
प्रस्तावित भनिएको सहमतिप्रति मोर्चा असन्तुष्ट

गच्छदारको भनाईले म्याद सिद्धिन लागेको ठानिएका प्रधानमन्त्री बाबुराम भट्टराईको स्थिति प्रबल बनाएको देखिएको छ। .... तराई केन्द्रित दलहरुको प्रभावशाली मोर्चा प्रधानमन्त्री भट्टराईको सरकारको ढाल बन्ने संकेत दिएका हुन्। .... “तीनवटा दलले मात्रै गरेको सहमति राष्ट्रिय सहमति हुन सक्दैन। अहिलेसम्म तीनवटा दलहरु बीच मात्रै सहमति गर्ने प्रयास भइरहेको छ। चौथो पक्षलाई सहभागी गराउन बाँकी छ।” ..... हाल सक्रिय चार पक्षको घेराबाट बाहिर निस्केर सहमतिको प्रयास राष्ट्रपतिले थाल्ने सम्भावना बढ्ने ... “राजनीतिक निकासको एवं संविधान अनुसार कदम चाल्न ठाउँ नभएको हुनाले दलहरुलाई पन्छाएर राष्ट्रपति अघि बढ्ने सम्भावना म देख्दिन।

'सहमति कायम भइसकेको छैन'

काँग्रेस उपसभापति रामचन्द्र पौडेलले भने, “सहमतिको नजिक, नजिक पुगेको भन्ने कुरा अहिले सम्म निश्चित छैन, सहमतिले कुनै ठोस आकार प्रकार लिईसकेको छैन।” ... आउँदो चुनावको मिति तोक्ने, संवैधानिक र कानुनी अड्चन फुकाउने, केही समयका लागि भए पनि भट्टराई नेतृत्वको सरकारमा काँग्रेस, एमाले सहभागी हुने/नहुने, संवैधानिक निकायमा रिक्त पदपूर्ति र सत्य निरुपण तथा बेपत्ता छानबीन आयोग गठन गर्ने लगायतका विषयमा प्याकेजमै सहमतिको कोसिस भईरहेको नेताहरुले बताएका छन्।

A new force will emerge in Madhes

My two primary interests are reading and writing. I especially enjoy biographies and autobiographies. I recently finished Deng Xiaoping’s biography written by his daughter. I’ve also started reading Kissinger’s biography. ..... Institutionally, except the Constituent Assembly (which was an exception), Madhesi representation has never been above 20 percent...... In the judiciary, it’s below five percent, and in the Police/Army, it’s below one percent. The Dalit presence in all institutions is negligible and the story of Janajatis is similar..... The situation in Nepal is similar to that of Pakistan around 1947-1950, when 20 percent of the population (Punjabis) dominated at the expense of the Sindhi, Balochi and Pashtun. ...... The next elections will show new trends in the Madhes. New polarisation is underway. A new force to represent the Madhes will emerge. ..... A new Madhesi political force will emerge. There are three or four sides to this new formation. The militant forces in the Madhes, currently in negotiation with the government, are not in the mood to continue with an armed movement. The attraction for the Maoists among Madhesis is dwindling; today Madhesi members in that party are threatening to not participate in their general convention. Disenchanted Madhesis in the UML also did not join Ashok Rai’s party. Moreover, the 11 percent of the vote the Madhesi parties got in the last election will not go back to the Nepali Congress because of that party’s anti-federalist position. ...... The new census is out. It says that literacy rates in the Madhes are among the lowest in Nepal, comparable to the remote mountain district of Humla. ...... Bijay Gachchadar has become minister 11 times but look at the literacy rate in his district—it’s abysmal. ..... can’t condemn migration to the Madhes. We have to think about shared rule with Pahadeys in the Madhes. .... The old agenda was focussed on rights advocacy, the new one will focus on development advocacy.

Warring parties get Prez’s ‘last consensus deadline’

“The President will reach out to all the parties of the dissolved Constituent Assembly and seek their advice if no solution emerges before the deadline. He has no desire to take a lead to form any kind of government”

NC floats ‘holistic’ proposal to confront burning issues

Nepali Congress has proposed that political forces simultaneously agree on amending the Interim Constitution, fulfiling vacant constitutional posts, fixing the date of the Constituent Assembly election and handing over the leadership of a unity government to the party..... NC negotiators have said that all of these issues should be completed on the same day.

Ethnic parties warn of armed struggle

ethnic head of Tamsaling Nepal Rastriya Party, Peshal Tamang ..... Samyukta Jatiya Mukti Morcha Nepal, Kirati Janabadi Workers Party, Tamsaling Nepal Rastriya Dal, Mangol Democratic Party, Mangol Mulbasi Party, Nepal Rastriya Mulbasi Mahasang, Samyukta Rastriyabadi Jatiya Mukti Morcha, Nepal Mukti Morcha, Limbuwan State Force and Tamsaling Swayatta Rajya Parisad

Deal hits PM’s ‘dignified exit’ hurdle

The PM said Koirala was “non-committal to federalism and past agreements.” ...... To Bhattarai, a “dignified exit” is when the NC and the CPN-UML join the incumbent government, albeit for a very brief period, and his government completes all election related tasks, including fixing the date...... Bhattarai has also told his party boss Pushpa Kamal Dahal that he will not resign without turning his government into a national unity one. As an alternative, Bhattarai has proposed forming a unity government led by either a candidate from the Madhesi parties or one from the fringe parties. ..... Koirala has said the date for the new elections should be declared by a new government and not by the Bhattarai government. Earlier, NC negotiators were ready to resolve all the issues simultaneously. ..... NC’s actual reluctance to take the ownership of issues of the new constitution that have been agreed upon, mainly about federalism as proposed by the UCPN (Maoist) and Madhes-based parties. ..... Bhattarai has been pressing Dahal not to agree to change the present government until the party’s convention. The Bhattarai faction of the party is of the view that as it will take more than one month to complete all election related arrangements, government leadership will be handed over to the NC only after that. ...... Dahal is not in a position to force Bhattarai to quit in view of the fast approaching convention. .... an informal meeting of NC office bearers and influential central committee members, has concluded that Bhattarai is a hurdle to consensus.