Himalayan task

To appreciate really how dramatic the performance of the Maoists in Nepal8217;s April 10 elections for a constituent assembly is, consider this. In 2005, when Manjushree Thapa, a Nepali writer, published a bestselling book on her country, here is what she had to say about Prachanda, chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist CPM-N: 8220;Prachanda, who has remained underground for all his political life, is shown as a stocky, bearded man in the one photograph the public has ever seen of him.8221; Just three years later, Prachanda8217;s smiling, unbearded face is easily recognised. And now, with results steadily pouring into an electoral system that allots seats based on first-past-the-post victories and proportional representation, Prachanda8217;s Maoists appears headed for a majority. The magnitude of their victory does come as a surprise. But the more significant message from Kathmandu is the capacity of a democratic process to draw these words from a man who till two years ago was committed to a 8220;people8217;s war8221; against bourgeois parliamentary democracy. As the first results started trickling in, Prachanda expressed commitment to gaining a lasting peace for Nepal and to upholding multi-party democracy.

It is understandable that observers are flummoxed about what this may mean for Nepal. After all, even as Nepal went to polls this month, the US still categorised the Maoists as a terrorist organisation. It would, however, be destructive if concerned governments, especially in New Delhi, were to allow this to dictate a Nepal policy that does not unambiguously repose confidence in a ruling arrangement in Kathmandu that so clearly derives its power from a popular mandate. India has been key in steadying Nepal8217;s passage from the decade-long civil war to this month8217;s elections. India showed quick responsiveness two years ago, when King Gyanendra was forced to lift his repressive emergency. By a peace deal in 2006 the Maoists agreed to give up their armed struggle and come overground after being assured that an elected constituent assembly would be empowered to take a decision on the continuance of the monarchy.

Nobody who has Nepal8217;s interests at heart will miss the monarchy. What will be of concern will be the Maoists8217;s staying power. Last year, they pulled out of the interim government arguing, speciously, that they had been led to believe that the monarchy would be abolished before the elections for the constituent assembly. That could have been due to a lack of self-confidence about their prospects in the elections. Today, the people of Nepal have given them an unambiguous mandate. That vote derives in large part from popular anger at the appalling record in government of other political parties. Prachanda and his Maoists still have to prove themselves worthy of this mandate. They must be given a chance to do so.