Nepal's CPN-UML party quit government after poll defeat
Surya B. Prasai
April 16, 2008
With Nepal´s Maoists continuing to win the majority of direct and proportionate vote counts to the new Constituent Assembly, CPN-UML has tendered its resignation to the incumbent Koirala government. It is learnt, the UML decided to give their written resignation to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala yesterday, considering themselves no longer fit to be part of the coalition government after facing a huge and unexpected electoral defeat in Nepal´s first democratic election held after 1999. However, Prime Minister Koirala is known to have pleaded to the UML to reconsider their resignations even if it were for an interim period of two weeks. Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan, Education Minister Pradeep Nepal, Tourism minister Prithvi Subba Gurung, General administration minister Ram Chandra Yadav, Agriculture and cooperatives minister Chhabilal Biswokarma and state ministers Mohan Singh Rathour and Nagendra Prasad Chaudhary had represented the UML in the Koirala-led government. It was Foreign minister Pradhan, who presented the resignation letters to the PM who asked that UML reconsider its views and not to make a hasty decision.
The UML decision was being openly mulled by Pradip Nepal, Education Minister, coming amidst the Maoists´ go-slow policy in forming a new government citing domestic and international consultations on the kind of truly democratic government they want to structure based on the aspirations of the Nepali people. Coordinator of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) Upendra Yadav has stated from Lahan, Siraha that his party is willing to provide support to the new government, although they have yet to decide on joining. It is likely the MJF might end up being the fourth largest party in Nepal after all the votes are counted. Going by current trends, the Maoists are expected to garner around one-third votes in proportional representational vote. The Maoists have around 33% of the votes, NC has 22 % and UML 22% under the proportional vote count.
In a meeting between Prime Minister Koirala and former UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, the same old differences are known to have surfaced once again, with both leaders in the end taking comfort in the feeling that the NC-UML collaboration did not work well on past occasions, and the possibilities might be remote in future.
Sources close to the two leftist parties, CPN-M and UML indicate that though the CA Poll had shown them as bitter enemies in front of the Nepali voters, the fact that Maoist´s number two leader, Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai seems enthusiastic in welcoming some of the moderate UML leaders to join CPN-M seems an attractive proposal particularly for those dissatisfied with the current UML leadership. Bhattarai had indicated this, in the past to other moderate and nationalist faction leaders as well. In the recent CA Poll results, both NC and UML faced defeat at the hands of disenchanted Nepali voters. Even the Maoist leaders expressed surprise at the huge voter turnout in support. It is widely believed by experienced Nepali pollsters that more than half the electorate were disenchanted housewives and youth, all expressing their anger in having to wait in long ques for petrol, diesel and kerosene, face electricity power outages, insufficient drinking water supply, rising inflation and food prices, and lack of societal discipline.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the first Constituent Assembly meeting venue, the Birendra International Convention Center in Naya Baneswore, is being prepared for the 601 members assembly to convene, which will likely take place in three weeks. More seats are being added and necessary conference logistics prepared. The Nepali Parliament building can accommodate at most 400 members, if the visitors gallery is to be included. The Nepal Parliament´s officers are planning to erect temporary administrative offices in the BICC complex until the complex in Singha Durbar is readjusted to accommodate a larger number. Acting General Secretary of the Parliament Secretariat Manohar Prasad Bhattarai confirmed that these adjustments will be completed in two weeks time. It would certainly also mean adding a few dozen more toilets and eating facilities.
Meanwhile Canada has also welcomed the CA Poll stating it as an important milestone in the peace process. A statement issued by Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada on Tuesday states, "Despite some isolated incidents of intimidation and violence, as well as some irregularities, the overwhelming majority of Nepalese women and men voted in a peaceful, orderly and enthusiastic manner." The Canadian Foreign Minister has said his government will continue to support Nepal's efforts to achieve a more peaceful, stable and democratic society.
In the next two weeks, intensive parleys are expected to take place to name potential ministers including a Prime Minister or Chairman of a Council of Ministers. It is not known whether Prachanda or Dr. Bhattarai will include themselves in active leadership roles, but it quite likely that the latter might head the new government. It is expected the Maoists will retain two thirds of the ministries including defense, foreign, finance and home. A few independent NC and UML members might be included in the cabinet, along with representatives of MJF and other smaller parties.
Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress´s leader Sher Bahadur Deuba has stated that his party will now take stock of the electoral defeat and also try to collect data from the districts for a future NC review session. He is known to be hugely disappointed with the results in general, given that there are circulating rumors in Kathmandu that some of the defeated NC members had even helped the Maoists in their victory parade given their disenchantment with senior party leadership.
The UML decision was being openly mulled by Pradip Nepal, Education Minister, coming amidst the Maoists´ go-slow policy in forming a new government citing domestic and international consultations on the kind of truly democratic government they want to structure based on the aspirations of the Nepali people. Coordinator of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) Upendra Yadav has stated from Lahan, Siraha that his party is willing to provide support to the new government, although they have yet to decide on joining. It is likely the MJF might end up being the fourth largest party in Nepal after all the votes are counted. Going by current trends, the Maoists are expected to garner around one-third votes in proportional representational vote. The Maoists have around 33% of the votes, NC has 22 % and UML 22% under the proportional vote count.
In a meeting between Prime Minister Koirala and former UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, the same old differences are known to have surfaced once again, with both leaders in the end taking comfort in the feeling that the NC-UML collaboration did not work well on past occasions, and the possibilities might be remote in future.
Sources close to the two leftist parties, CPN-M and UML indicate that though the CA Poll had shown them as bitter enemies in front of the Nepali voters, the fact that Maoist´s number two leader, Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai seems enthusiastic in welcoming some of the moderate UML leaders to join CPN-M seems an attractive proposal particularly for those dissatisfied with the current UML leadership. Bhattarai had indicated this, in the past to other moderate and nationalist faction leaders as well. In the recent CA Poll results, both NC and UML faced defeat at the hands of disenchanted Nepali voters. Even the Maoist leaders expressed surprise at the huge voter turnout in support. It is widely believed by experienced Nepali pollsters that more than half the electorate were disenchanted housewives and youth, all expressing their anger in having to wait in long ques for petrol, diesel and kerosene, face electricity power outages, insufficient drinking water supply, rising inflation and food prices, and lack of societal discipline.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the first Constituent Assembly meeting venue, the Birendra International Convention Center in Naya Baneswore, is being prepared for the 601 members assembly to convene, which will likely take place in three weeks. More seats are being added and necessary conference logistics prepared. The Nepali Parliament building can accommodate at most 400 members, if the visitors gallery is to be included. The Nepal Parliament´s officers are planning to erect temporary administrative offices in the BICC complex until the complex in Singha Durbar is readjusted to accommodate a larger number. Acting General Secretary of the Parliament Secretariat Manohar Prasad Bhattarai confirmed that these adjustments will be completed in two weeks time. It would certainly also mean adding a few dozen more toilets and eating facilities.
Meanwhile Canada has also welcomed the CA Poll stating it as an important milestone in the peace process. A statement issued by Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada on Tuesday states, "Despite some isolated incidents of intimidation and violence, as well as some irregularities, the overwhelming majority of Nepalese women and men voted in a peaceful, orderly and enthusiastic manner." The Canadian Foreign Minister has said his government will continue to support Nepal's efforts to achieve a more peaceful, stable and democratic society.
In the next two weeks, intensive parleys are expected to take place to name potential ministers including a Prime Minister or Chairman of a Council of Ministers. It is not known whether Prachanda or Dr. Bhattarai will include themselves in active leadership roles, but it quite likely that the latter might head the new government. It is expected the Maoists will retain two thirds of the ministries including defense, foreign, finance and home. A few independent NC and UML members might be included in the cabinet, along with representatives of MJF and other smaller parties.
Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress´s leader Sher Bahadur Deuba has stated that his party will now take stock of the electoral defeat and also try to collect data from the districts for a future NC review session. He is known to be hugely disappointed with the results in general, given that there are circulating rumors in Kathmandu that some of the defeated NC members had even helped the Maoists in their victory parade given their disenchantment with senior party leadership.