Will RJP-N join poll?

The Himalayan Times

27 July 2017

Will RJP-N join poll?

Finally, the Nepali Congress through its Central Working Committee (CWC) has decided to put the constitution amendment bill to vote without waiting for other parties’ support “NC to put amendment bill to vote”(THT, July 25, Page 1) which had to be technically done before holding the second phase of local elections. However, NC’s this decision will put other parties especially the UML and some other fringe parties under pressure to think twice before saying “no” to this bill. It will also definitely put pressure on the Rastiya Janata Party (RJP-N) to seriously consider participating in the upcoming third phase of local polls scheduled for September 18 whatever the result of the vote will be.

The Ratriya Prajantantra Party (RPP), which has 35 lawmakers in the parliament, seems still undecided whether or not to support the bill. Its role can be crucial for the bill. As demanded by RJP-N, the Dahal led government had withdrawn the first constitution amendment bill and registered the second constitution amendment bill on April 11. However, this bill was not tabled for voting due to the UML’s political stance. Some of the senior leaders of big parties have been recently found publicly claiming  that the constitution amendment will be done only after holding the third phase polls which does not help to create conducive political environment for bringing RJP-N on board “Statute amendment after polls” (THT, July 24, Page 5).

Looking at the recent political dialogue going on in between the ruling parties and the RJP-N with the intention of fulfilling other demands of RJP-N, the chances of it participating in the upcoming polls seems increasing. However, it is yet to be seen whether the ongoing political dialogue will bear fruit. Another decision made by NC’s CWC was to urge the government to add 22 local levels in Tarai districts, a government proposal quashed by the Supreme Court.

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj