Dissolution of assembly throws Nepal into chaos

KATHMANDU – Tiny Himalayan country Nepal has plunged into another round of political crisis following the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly Sunday midnight (May 29). 

The first ever CA elected originally for two years in 2008 to draft a new constitution expired four years after without promulgating the new constitution.

Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai though has announced fresh polls for the CA, it is uncertain whether the elections slated for November 22 will be held as questions have been raised about the legitimacy of the government and the polls as the interim constitution is silent about the government after the dissolution of the CA and the parliament.

The 601-member Assembly dissolved after the parties failed to forge consensus on state restructuring, especially about the names and numbers of the federal units. 

The  democratic forces led by Nepali Congress strongly opposed the ethnic based federalism while ruling Maoists and the United Democratic Madhesi Front, an alliance of small regional parties, which are blamed for working at the instruction of India, stuck to ethnic based federalism, leading to the dissolution of the historic CA.

The state restructuring not only led to the division among the political forces but also disrupted the communal harmony when the rival communal groups took to the streets protesting for and against the ethnic-based federalism. 

The ruling Maoists led by Prachanda was accused of instigating the street protests by fueling the communal groups retaliate against major ethnic groups of Brahmins, Chhetris and Dashnamis which account 38 percent of the total population. 

Although Nepal is home to 118 ethnic groups, the Maoist leadership wanted to create federal units of only eight ethnic communities which drew flak from the educated people as well as the democratic parties. 

After the announcement of the fresh elections, the parties were divided into two groups, with majority of the parties and people opposing the Prime Minister’s move for fresh elections terming it unconstitutional while the ruling groups defending the move. They have also demanded resignation of the prime minister.

The opposition parties have asked President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav to sack the Prime Minister but the President has not taken any move and the parties are planning to take to the streets. 

If the parties do not come together, the chance of holding the new elections will be slim as without consensus among the parties, the Maoists alone cannot hold the elections as they need amendment in the constitution to hold the elections. 

The democratic forces had accused the Maoists of trying to capture the state power through elections which Maoist chairman refuted in a press statement Monday evening.