By Shanker Man Singh
An alliance or coalition form of government is a group of people or groups working together for a common purpose. Alliances can be temporary or situational.
Its function is mainly one type. In the history of the past, especially after the parliamentary elections of 2079, Prime Minister Prachanda, who made an unexpected alliance with the UML at the beginning, changed the alliance within a few months and joined forces with the Nepali Congress.
Maoist leaders have been saying that the alliance was not only for five years but also for a long time. But after about thirteen-plus months, all that has collapsed.
The main reason for that is that the prime minister has a ‘feeling that is not suitable for work’. It has become public knowledge that the issue of the chief minister of Koshi province, the finance minister is said to be uncooperative, and the issue of the Speaker of the National Assembly has also come to the surface.
It is said that they did not help, time will tell what the reality is.
At the same time, the Maoists have claimed that the discussions and resolutions passed in the recently concluded general committee meeting of the Nepali Congress have irritated the Maoists, and there have been inappropriate and unnatural expressions against the Maoists.
In the General Committee, issues such as Congress not forming a pre-election alliance in the upcoming elections were passed.
In addition, Girija has felt that Prachand has taken responsibility for the 12-point agreement, and the peace agreement, and that the constitution itself has to be seen as there is no such provision that a single party can muster the majority and form the government.
Analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of Nepal’s political instability, the following key aspects and weaknesses are prominent: Strengths: Social awareness of people: People in Nepal are aware of political instability, and they are struggling for their rights. Because of that, this will be strengthened with time. Constitutional Process: The Constitution of Nepal provides clarity that there will be a multi-party coalition in the political process and that the judicial system will judge.
Weaknesses: Unequal Division of Parties: The internal division and disparity of Nepal’s political parties contribute to Nepal’s instability. Corruption: Political corruption makes Nepal’s situation even more unstable.
Opportunities: Youth participation in the political process can improve Nepal’s instability. International Assistance for Development: Nepal can receive international assistance for development.
Threats: Nepal’s geo-political relations with India have been discussed from time to time, and this leads to Nepal’s political situation.
On the other hand, China’s BRI, Lumbini International Airport, Pokhara Airport, etc. are not operational, and MCC and many others have openly expressed their opinions.
There is no doubt that it will be difficult to restore peace in Nepal if the people disobey the political process.
The main parties of the ruling coalition will start talks and discussions to form the government. The important question is: what will Nepal’s alliance look like and will it be sustainable or not?
Just to recapitulate, that is a matter of concern and interest. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said on the completion of one year in government that the government has not failed in its one-year term and has not brought the results as desired. Prime Minister Dahal had said in his speech a few months back on the occasion of his tenure reaching one year, “I am not in the condition or state of mind to forgive anyone when their performance is poor. We are all under moral pressure to do justice to our roles. If we can’t prove the efficiency, nobody should occupy the place, it should be left.’
The coalition government has some strengths and weaknesses. Coalition politics brings together mutually opposing political groups on one platform. Strengths lie in the fact that it helps weaken their extreme stance on national issues.
It helps in building a broad consensus on issues of strategic national interest. The role of the prime minister in a coalition government is very different, as he can neither choose his colleagues nor exercise control over them.
In a parliamentary system, the primary responsibility for delivering on commitments falls to the coalition cabinet, where the prime minister is the key figure.
However, it is more difficult to fulfill commitments in a coalition government than in a single-party government. The Prime Minister’s speech in the name of countrymen after one year should be implemented.
Prachanda should do the work of leaving an “impression” on the people by giving support, cooperation, and support to the other parties of the new alliance.
Instead, he should make a speech on the progress and goals of the ministry in MPs, speeches, inaugurations, party programs, etc. This period was marked by many steps taken by the government. This has created a culture of alliance in Nepal.
Although economic indicators have recently shown an upward trend, these seem to be only reflected in economic terms.
Given the emerging political situation, this symptomatic projection that the country is taking may ultimately hurt the economy badly. Unfortunately, political leaders do not seem to care about this grim reality. There is no possibility of a single-party government in Nepal.
The expected performance of the coalition government while in power has borne its negative weight. The new coalition government must work not only to create jobs but also to address the job expectations of the youth.
The government should encourage them to contribute to the development of Nepal by working in their own country. A coalition government can be very unstable. Coalition politics has entered a new phase of the Nepali political system. In today’s political scenario in Nepal, the governance system and multi-party alliance are gradually becoming interconnected.
Every small party that gets three to four seats in federal and provincial parliaments has started playing an important role in government formation. They argue that coalitions lead to better government when decisions are made in the interests of the majority of the people. However, the various demands made by the coalition partners are creating extreme tension within the government, and it seems impossible. The political scenario shows the level of compromises and adjustments that political stakeholders have to make in the form of moves and manoeuvres to form a coalition government. Nepal and India are two countries bound by a complex network of relations and interrelationships spread across civilizational, historical, social, cultural, economic, geo-strategic, and political terrains. The cornerstone of the Nepal-India ‘unique’ relationship is the India-Nepal Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1950, which recognizes the old mutual relationship and aims to take it to a higher level. India has played an important role in all the major political transitions in Nepal, such as the fall of the Rana regime in 1951, the establishment of democracy in 1959, the re-establishment of democracy in 1990, and bringing Maoists into mainstream politics through the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2007.
Along with the changing geopolitical scenario of South Asia, there has also been a change in Chinese interest and policy in Nepal. In the past, China’s interest in Nepal was limited to safeguarding its own security from problems arising from Tibet and bringing some economic benefits from bilateral trade. However, in recent times, there has been a feeling that China is trying to gradually weaken India’s leadership by increasing its influence in Nepal.
In the past, while Prachanda had a two-thirds majority, China has played an active role in bringing together and unifying the left-wing Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist) and Nepal Communist Party-Maoist Center.
To sum up, let us hope that as said by the ruling party the course correction has been done and the outcome should and will come in the development of Nepal and upliftment of the Nepali people.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect People’s Review’s editorial stance.
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