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Indeterminate state


The Himalayan Times
30 July 2012
After the sad demise of Constitution Assembly (CA), it has been almost one and half month for the common people anxiously waiting to see political solutions for the current political stalemate and constitutional vacuum. However, looking closely at the ongoing political activities, there does not seem to be any immediate solutions in hand. The major political parties continue to blame each other for the current political impasse. Opposition parties want the President to act as per their suggestions. The President continues to say that he would not take any decision undermining the good faith of the Interim Constitution as reported in “ Won’t take decision in haste: Prez” (THT, July 25, Page 5). On the other side, the political parties in power do not seem serious in resolving the current political problem soon.

Some suggest reviving the dead CA for some time to conclude the remaining jobs of new constitution. Others suggest going for the new CA election reducing the number of CA members and complete the process of drafting new constitution and convert the CA into parliament. There are other options that suggest forming a high level commission to complete the drafting of new constitution and promulgate the constitution through the freshly elected parliament and so on. So, the options are numerous but none of the major political parties are found forging consensus on a particular option.

Considering this political uncertainty, it seems the President is required to quickly act based on the political practicality rather than depending solely on different articles and clauses of the Interim Constitution (IC). The more the transitional period gets elongated, there seems to be more political uncertainty pushing the nation towards political, social and economic chaos. So, if the President can convince the major political parties to prepare for fresh parliament election to get peoples fresh mandate, he can let the care taker government comprising non-political intellectuals, professionals and experts to run the country’s day to day administration. The President should also form a separate high level commission comprising constitutional experts to complete the drafting of new constitution leaving the unresolved issues of new constitution to be sorted out through the referendum.

Rai Biren Bangdel
Maharajgunj, Kathmandu

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