Kathmandu
Less than two weeks ago, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ was exuding confidence.
On June 22, he assured his party supporters that he had the “magical number” to lead the government until the next election. “With magic, anything can be fixed,” he proclaimed.
Since his re-election as Prime Minister on December 25, 2022, Prachanda, the leader of the Nepal Communist Party-Maoist Centre (NCP-MC), has switched allegiances multiple times between the Nepali Congress (NC) and the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML). His recent statement did not sit well with CPN-UML chairperson K.P. Sharma Oli, who was slated to take over the government as per an agreement with Prachanda.
Meanwhile, NC president Sher Bahadur Deuba, who had been betrayed twice by Prachanda, seized an opportunity to form an alliance with Oli. The two parties, with 88 and 79 seats respectively in the 275-member House of Representatives, have called for constitutional amendments to ensure political stability and form a “national consensus government.”
The CPN-UML withdrew its support from Prachanda’s government, prompting calls for his resignation and the formation of a new government. Prachanda, with 32 seats, has refused to step down and intends to seek a confidence vote in parliament.
More than meets the eye
Observers believe that the move against Prachanda was a long time coming, as Deuba and Oli worked together to outmaneuver him.
While the NC and CPN-UML cite constitutional amendments for political stability, critics argue that it is merely a facade to mask their political ambitions.
There are speculations that the new alliance aims to thwart corruption investigations that could implicate influential leaders from both parties.
Flaws in constitution?
The electoral system in Nepal has been blamed for political instability by major parties. Calls for constitutional amendments have been made, but the process requires a two-thirds majority in both parliamentary houses.
The Rastriya Swatantra Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party have differing views on the amendments, complicating the political landscape further.
Slippery slope
The proposed changes to the electoral system reflect CPN-UML’s regressive stance, with concerns about a potential return to the 1990 Constitution.
The new alliance’s plan for constitutional amendments is seen as a strategic move to unseat Prachanda and pave the way for Oli and Deuba to take turns leading the government.
Despite concerns about a lack of opposition in parliament, the political culture in Nepal has shifted towards opportunism and power consolidation.
Overall, the NC and CPN-UML’s maneuvers highlight the challenges of maintaining stability and democracy in Nepal’s political landscape.
(Sanjeev Satgainya is an independent journalist based in Kathmandu)
