UCPN (M) wants majority govt clause in statute gone

KATHMANDU, NOV 26 -
The UCPN (Maoist) on Monday demanded ‘reinstatement of the politics of consensus ’ as a precondition to joining the new Constituent Assembly (CA) and the government. The party said such a reinstatement should be ensured through an amendment to the constitution.

Political parties had agreed to follow consensus politics in 2006 and a provision to that effect was incorporated in Article 38 of the Interim Constitution-2007. However, after the CA election in 2008, the parties amended the statute and added another provision, allowing them to form a majority government if consensus among them eludes. Consensual politics means taking every decision, including formation of a government, on the basis of consensus among all the political parties.

In a meeting at the party headquarters at Perisdanda here, members of the UCPN (Maoist) Central Committee said only a constitutional obligation for consensus can ensure a new constitution within the set time frame (one year).

With 26 seats, the UCPN (Maoist) had to settle for the third spot in the first-past-the-post election system in CA polls held on November 19.

UCPN (Maoist) leaders said other parties should have no problem accepting this condition as they are the ones who had removed the provision of consensual system in the constitution when the UCPN (Maoist) became the largest party in the 2008 election.

“If other parties are committed to a progressive constitution, they should not hesitate to adopt this system,” party spokesperson Agni Sapkota told the Post.

The Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, however, rejected the Maoist demand of amending the constitution in the government formation process. “In practice, we are ready to promulgate a new constitution and form a government on consensus , but not through constitutional amendment,” said NC leader Prakash Saran Mahat.

UML spokesperson Pradeep Gyawali said that while his party is open to the idea of consensual politics, demanding the removal of Article 38 (2)—which states that the government can be formed on the basis of majority votes in the CA—is not practical.

“If we are talking about consensus , royalist forces such as the RPP-N also need to be taken into confidence, which may not be always easy,” Gyawali said.

The UCPN (Maoist) CC meeting also decided to suggest “ways to ensure the participation of parties that are outside of the CA,” which, according to insiders, was a reference to the CPN-Maoist that opposed the CA polls.

The party, however, did not elaborate. Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal held talks with CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidya on Sunday. Addressing the CC meeting, Dahal said that despite various attempts to hatch a conspiracy against his party, it should not deviate from the path of peace and constitution.

The meeting also demanded formation of an independent commission to investigate alleged electoral fraud on the part of the government.

The party also formed its probe panel led by leader Barsha Man Pun, which will collect evidences of the fraud.

The other members of the committee include Ram Chandra Jha, Khim Lal Devkota, Ram Narayan Bidari and Janak Raj Joshi.

The panel has been asked to prepare a report within a month and submit it to the party.

The party also decided to form an alliance with pro-federal forces. Soon after the party meeting, Dahal held talks with leaders from other political parties that are also claiming election fraud. Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Nepal led by Upendra Yadav and Federal Socialist Party Nepal led by Ashok Rai have also claimed that there had been widespread election fraud.

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