Volatile scenario

The Himalayan Times

15 June 2017

Volatile scenario

The Rastriya Janta Party Nepal (RJP-N) missed the deadline, June 13, set by the Election Commission for submitting documents required for participating in the second phase of local level elections “RJP-N misses EC deadline to submit documents (THT, 13 June, Page1). This indicates that the Deuba led government needs to be cautiously tackled the political situation. If it fails to bring disgruntled Madhes based political parties on board and make them participate in the upcoming local level election, the country may face problems.

 It’s been almost 21 months since the new constitution was promulgated. Since then, Madhes based parties are protesting against some elements of the new constitution and asking the government for their amendment. Last year, the government had amended the constitution without taking them into confidence. Now, there does not seem enough time on hand for the government to amend the constitution as demanded by the RJP-N. The ruling parties continue to say that the date set for the second phase election will not be changed. On the other hand, RJP-N keeps saying that it will not participate in the election until the government amends the constitution. Where is the comprising point for both the government and RJP-N? 

Election fever has started gripping some of the districts creating confusions among the local population “Election fever grips Biratnagar metropolis” (THT, June 13, Page 5). The opposition led by the UML has now started blaming both the ruling parties and the RJPN for playing foul games by trying to defer the upcoming polls. It is the UML that does not want to budge from its political stand of not to amend the constitution. The government needs a two-thirds majority for the constitution amendment which is not possible until the UML joins hands in this process.

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj, Kathmandu