News Commentary
By P.R. Pradhan
Sanghu vernacular weekly, known to be closed to Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli faction in the Nepal Communist Party reported that the country is going to face a serious political crisis since there is no chance for general elections on the scheduled dates in April and May.
By last week of February, the Supreme Court is likely to give verdict on the case of dissolution of House of Representatives. Presently, after completing the hearing by the advocates in favour of the petition, the hearing in favour of the PM’s prerogative for dissolving the parliament has started.
Whatsoever be the Supreme Court verdict, the country would face a political crisis. Even if the House of Representatives is restored, it will not avoid political turmoil. Again, if the PM’s action is approved by the Court, the nation will not get a political outlet. Instead, there is the possibility of converting Nepal into a battlefield of foreign powers especially the Indians and Westerners. How will China come, it has yet to be seen. Already, the reflection of the West has been witnessed in media. They are seen in favour of federalism and secularism and against the PM’s action, the issue which is under the Court’s consideration.
Attempt to influence Court verdict:
Pushpakamal Dahal and Madhav Nepal faction NCP is not sure about the Court verdict that would be in favour of them.
Dahal, addressing a press conference on 5 February morning, said that there could be a “setting” in the Supreme Court and also in the Election Commission in favour of Oli.
Earlier, Madhav Nepal had expressed the worry that the EC may conspire to suspend the NCP with the plan of prohibiting using the name and symbol “sun” to the Prachanda-Nepal faction.
Prachanda has warned that if the court verdict will go against them, his faction would launch a joint movement against Oli’s unconstitutional move.
Dahal-Nepal faction is trying to heat the streets and even trying to launch joint agitation with other political parties. However, this effort has not been successful.
Election Law:
The Law related to resolving the dispute in any political party states that the EC can suspend the party/parties engaged in dispute until the election is over. On this case, both the groups can be prohibited from using the party’s name and election symbol.
Prachanda-Nepal faction is less interested in elections and giving priority to the restoration of the parliament through a third people’s movement.
Foreign actors:
The political agitations in Nepal have not become successful without Indian support. However, this time, India seems divided. The Indian establishment seems against secularism and federalism, whereas, the anti-establishment faction dominated by those actors who were in South Block and RAW during the 2006 April uprising, are trying to safeguard the present constitution. Similarly, the westerners have reached out to the citizens’ group to launch citizens’ movement to save the present constitution.
The present Indian interests are reducing China’s presence/role in Nepal; increasing India’s role here and encircling China jointly with the USA.
In conclusion, Nepal seems to convert into a battlefield of foreign interests.
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