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VOL. 28, NO. 19, Jan 16, 2009 (Magh 03 2065 B.S.)
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Midnight Drama
Known as a politician lucky enough to make a comeback in a political drama at the last minutes, CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal lives up to his reputation by surprised many by entering into the Constituent Assembly
By KESHAB POUDEL
As it is said there is nothing impossible in Nepali politics. This was what one found in the Saturday's political drama played in Constituent Assembly, which, within a matter of hours literally, endorsed former CPN-UML general secretary Nepal as a new member of CA.
Following the election debacle in the CA, Nepal resigned from the position of general secretary of UML taking the entire moral obligation. Nepal, who lost the elections from two constituencies, was, however, expecting some political role.
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Nepal: Surprising comeback |
His hope to become the first president of Republic Nepal was dashed following Maoist leaders' betrayal at the last minute. However, he has finally secured all party support to lead the high level constitution making committee.
In his interview to Spotlight on October 24, 2008, Nepal indicated that he would be appointed to lead the constitution committee. "At a time when there is uncertainty over the process of writing a new constitution, perhaps prime minister Prachanda expected some role from me," said Nepal.
Though some politicians and journalists were portraying him as a person who would discard the official positions, Nepal was frank enough to say that he cannot live without political position. "If I discard every offer I cannot be active in politics. If I decide to be active in politics, I cannot live without political position. If I want to be actively involved in the politics, I need some post and position," Nepal had said in that interview.
Although CA failed to do its business for more than three weeks because of political disputes between Nepali Congress and CPN-Maoist, interestingly the CA convened its meeting thrice in just a span of five hours between 2 PM to 10.30 PM Saturday when it made Nepal its latest member.
The chairman of Constituent Assembly Subas Chandra Nembang did all these miracles. In its first meeting, Nembang announced the announcement of resignation of Sushi Chandra Amatya. Then, CA adjourned till the cabinet nominated Madhav Nepal for vacant position. After Nepal's nomination, the CA convened and chairman Nembang read the nomination letter of cabinet. Then, Nepal was invited to take oath of office by chairman Nembang.
Finally the meeting was convened again at 10:30 pm where newly appointed Nepal took part in the meeting. For former general secretary of CPN-UML Nepal, this is the best of the times when he entered to CA to lead the main constitution drafting committee with support from all four major political parties.
Former general secretary of CPN-UML was also a member of drafting committee of constitution of Kingdom of Nepal 1990. After the promulgation of that constitution, Nepal claimed that it was the best constitution of the world.
However, his party under his leadership made no bones about summarily dumping the best constitution of the world in the dustbin. Nobody knows how much faith and commitment he will show to new constitution drafted by the Constituent Assembly.
However, his hope to be elected unopposed was dashed following the decision of Dalit Janjati Party leader Bishwendra Paswan to contest the elections for the post of CC chair. As his candidature is backed by major political parties, his election is virtually inevitable.
After elections of Nepal as a chairman of main constitution making committee, the constitution making process is now firmly under the hand of communists. With over 60 percent of votes of communists, Nepali Congress and other liberal democratic forces are not in a position to challenge them.
The backing of even liberal democratic parties like Nepali Congress for his election along with all kinds of communist forces is strange. "We support Nepal's candidature since he can play compromising role," said Laxman Prasad Ghimir, chief whip of Nepali Congress.
In the last three years, Nepali Congress was the main loser in the politics. From bringing the Maoists in the mainstream and paving the way for Maoists to reach the power and now supporting another communist leader Nepal to lead the democratic constitution making process, nobody knows what kind of liberal democratic constitution Nepali Congress is expecting from communist dominated Constituent Assembly.
"How strange is it for Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala, who put all the communist leaders in country's main position and he himself left for political banbas," said a political commentator. "This is an ideological defeat for Nepali Congress."
In the last eight months, people have seen many miracles in the CA as 601 member jamboree has made every impossible things possible. At its first meeting, the Constituent Assembly abolished 237-year-old monarchy without giving any chance to register the dissenting opinion on a motion presented by home minister who was rejected by the people in the elections.
Coming back to the CA, Nepal has played another role in the political drama. Nepal was discarded by all last time but now he was accepted by every one. There must be something, which can twist and turn the political drama. Whether one likes it or not, Nepal's only duty will be to present the draft of the constitution for promulgation at midnight.
Meanwhile, of the two dozen committees of Constituent Assembly (CA) and legislative parliament, chairs for 19 committees have been unopposed. Till Monday evening, the parties reached understanding to share the 19 committees. However, there have been multiple aspirants for chairs in four committees.
