STATUTE AMENDMENT
The Kathmandu
Post
21 July
2017
STATUTE
AMENDMENT
The
first and the second phase elections were successfully held in six provinces. Not
surprisingly, the UML and the NC won a majority of the seats. It seemed that
the people gave another chance to these big political parties believing that
they would address their grievances (“All
in the same vote” July 19, Page 6).
Now,
the people from Province 2 are anxiously waiting to cast their votes in the
third phase election scheduled for September 18. The government had promised
before holding the second phase of local elections that the constitution
amendment process will be completed before holding the third phase election so as
to enable the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N) to participate in the polls.
However, looking at the recent political environment, the government seemed to
be losing hope of garnering a two-third majority to pass the amendment bill,
given the UML’s decision not to budge from its stance that the amendment is
against the national interest.
RJPN
should have participated in the second phase of local polls and put aside the demand
of constitution amendment. Had its local candidates performed well in the
elections, its position to exert pressure on the government would have been much
stronger.
Rai Biren Bangdel
Maharjgunj
