Editorial
Spontaneous street agitations have caught mainstream parties on the wrong foot. The NCP, still embroiled in its power tussle, has made government warnings against the streets even shriller. The Congress, using the ruse of the communist manhandling of its leader, has just concluded its unimpressive mobilization of cadre against government excess with promises of more to be staged. The RPP has been whipped off its monarchy and Hindu agenda finding its representation on the streets weak. And, the Tarai based parties must also promise to agitate with their regional and ethnic demands. This much is clear. The streets are warming up. Lost in the process is the fact that, since last year. Politics has not escaped the winter season. That too, this year, amidst the COVID pandemic. While the political parties have been quick to mobilize their cadre given their ready-made organization, the new mainstream on the streets have new salient characteristics. Firstly there is no clear leadership, Secondly, there is high youth participation from all major parties. Thirdly, they have found it convenient to rally behind the national flag with demands for a constitutional change which make these gatherings of political nature. They now appear to have relegated the hitherto popular allegations of rampant corruption giving a political direction to the political demands for change. Moreover, the movements, outside of being nationwide, have received widespread publicity in the social and non-mainstream media making it virtually impossible for the mainstream to ignore. It is another matter that the mainstream’s partisan nature has been highlighted by editorializations, op-ed criticism and critically dismissive news coverage.
It is not that all such comments can be dismissed outright as slanted. There is worth in their loud questions regarding the lack of leadership. This leads to further doubts about the continuing doubts on the direction. And, of course, there is the question of longevity. What the movement has to its credit is their localized nature. It makes local funding of such movements nationwide within reach of the local purse. This makes evident the cross-party nature of participation and makes clear the lack of leadership perhaps stems out of the need to subdue leadership and credit-taking tendencies from inhibiting the strength of the movement. Indeed, it is perhaps this trait that gives the movement strength in the sense of commitment to a sense of direction. What should worry the local leadership is that its local nature inhibits the purse. Thus stems the most lingering question of longevity. How long will the locals dance on the streets? Given the Nepali scenario where movements must be penetrated by vested interest at home and abroad, the possibility will dilute the spontaneity and direction of the movement is real. Especially when it comes to the Monarchical contents of the movement, the diversity of monarchists has already made certain that local participation will mean interference already being witnessed in the issue of the movement’s non-partisan clout. All this makes certain that the need for the movement to come to its logical success means a vital race for sustainable time.
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