CRITICAL SITUATION
The Kathmandu Post
4 August 2017
CRITICAL SITUATION
The date for holding local
elections in Province 2 is fast approaching. The voters’ registration process is
in full swing in all the election areas. Both the first and second phase
elections have been held successfully. People in all the six provinces have enthusiastically
participated in the polls. The CPN-UML was able to win mast of the mayoral
seats. Now, the major political parties have started speeding up their
political campaign to lure voters in Province 2. However, the Rastriya Janata
Party-Nepal (RJP-N) seems stuck on its demands for statute amendments (“A ‘weakened’ RJP says its agenda still
alive” August 3, Page 1).
It should have participated
in the first and second polls; this would have enabled it to keep their three demands
alive through local representatives. The RJP-N has made a political blunder;
and it seems to have realised that its movement was weakened by abstaining from
participation in the first and second phase of local elections. The ongoing scenario
shows that the ruling parties are not comfortable with the constitution
amendment bill. The NC has tabled an amendment that is unlikely to pass with a
two-third majority. However, the RJPN continued to say that it will not
participate in the third phase of polls until its three demands are met.
What happens if the
government moves ahead to conduct the polls without the RJPN? Will the CPN-UML
soften its political stance and allow the RJP-N come on board? What will happen
if the RJP-N decides to take to the streets to obstruct the third phase of
local elections? Time is running out for the ruling parties, the opposition and
the RJPN to come to a consensus and hold the polls successfully.
Rai Biren Bangdel
Maharajgunj
http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2017-08-04/critical-situation.html
