NEPAL-POLITICS: COMMUNIST ALLIANCE RUNS INTO DIFFICULTIES

By Kunda Dixit Reprint | | Print |

KUNDA DIXIT

KATHMANDU, Nov 24 1994 (IPS) - NEPAL’S COMMUNIST ALLIANCE, WHICH EMERGED AS THE LARGEST PARTY IN LAST WEEK’S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, IS RUNNING INTO DIFFICULTIES AS IT TRIES TO COBBLE TOGETHER A GOVERNMENT WITHOUT SUFFICIENT MAJORITY.

THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF NEPAL UNITED MARXIST-LENINIST (UML) WON 88 OF THE 205 SEATS IN THE NOV 15 ELECTIONS, BUT IT NEEDS AT LEAST 103 TO FORM A GOVERNMENT. AND IT IS FINDING IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO CONVINCE THE TWO OTHER BIG PARTIES TO JOIN IT IN A COALITION.

SOME MEMBERS OF THE SECOND LARGEST PARTY — THE NEPALI CONGRESS WITH 83 SEATS– ARE TRYING TO FORGE AN ALLIANCE WITH THE RIGHT-WING NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (RPP) TO SIDELINE THE COMMUNISTS. THE RPP WITH 20 SEATS HAS EMERGED AS THE THIRD LARGEST PARTY.

THE UML SAYS IT WOULD LIKE TO FORM A MINORITY GOVERNMENT WITH THE TACIT SUPPORT OF THE NEPALI CONGRESS, BUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF THAT HAPPENING SEEMS TO BE DIMINISHING AS THE PARTY’S WORKING COMMITTEE DELIBERATED FOR THE SECOND DAY THURSDAY.

“IT WOULD BE FOOLISH FOR US TO ABANDON ALL THE REFORM POLICIES WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN (TO A UML GOVERNMENT),” SAID RAM CHANDRA POUDEL, AGRICULTURE MINISTER IN THE CONGRESS GOVERNMENT AND ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE GROUP SUPPORTING A COALITION WITH THE RPP.

CARETAKER PRIME MINISTER GIRIJA PRASAD KOIRALA WHO IS SUPPOSED TO RESIGN FRIDAY HAS ALREADY TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PARTY’S DEFEAT AND SAID HE WOULD BE HAPPY TO REMAIN IN THE OPPOSITION.

A SIZEABLE GROUP WITHIN THE CONGRESS IS SAID TO SUPPORT KOIRALA, BUT A VOCAL MINORITY WANTS TO GO IN FOR A COALITION. THE CONGRESS IS PLAGUED WITH DISSENT AND ANALYSTS SAY INTERNAL BICKERING IS AMONG THE MAJOR REASONS FOR THE PARTY’S DEFEAT.

KOIRALA WAS FORCED TO CALL THE NOV 15 ELECTIONS 18 MONTHS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE BECAUSE OF A REVOLT BY 36 LEGISLATORS WHO ABSTAINED FROM A CRUCIAL BUDGETARY VOTE.

THE ELECTIONS, THE SECOND IN THE COUNTRY AFTER POPULAR STREET PROTESTS IN 1990 FORCED KING BIRENDRA TO ABDICATE ABSOLUTE MONARCHY TO BECOME A CONSTITUTIONAL KING AFTER 30 YEARS, SAW MANY DISGRUNTLED CONGRESS REBELS CONTEST AGAINST OFFICIAL PARTY NOMINEES.

THE GROUP FAVOURING THE COALITION BOLSTERS ITS ARGUMENT BY CITING A CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION THAT GIVES PRIORITY TO A COALITION OF TWO OR MORE PARTIES OVER A MINORITY GOVERNMENT MADE UP OF THE LARGEST PARTY.