Maoists in the House

The old order ended in Nepal as subjects became citizens and as the ‘royal’ tag that had hitherto been irrevocably attached to the Himalayan kingdom and its institutions was formally, and finally, discarded. The promulgation of an interim constitution as a first step towards the election of a constituent assembly through free and fair elections later this year, is certainly an epiphanic moment in the history of this Himalayan nation, preceded as it was by years of feudal suppression and bloody insurgency.

But this moment comes with its share of uncertainties. Commentators have already expressed misgivings over the new powers now enjoyed by the prime minister which had thus far been invested with the king. They see it, rightly, as undermining the principle of the separation of powers that is integral to democracy. Nepal’s new politics demands that its prime minister observes great restraint in the exercise of these powers. It also demands a political re-jigging from his Maoist colleagues in the country’s interim parliament. The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninists) constitutes a force slightly smaller than the Nepali Congress. How the Maoists use their new-found power in mainstream politics will determine to a significant extent the future trajectory of the country.

Reining in those who still function as they have done in the past decade may be a tough call, but Maoist leaders cannot afford the luxury of avoiding this task. In the last few days, even after peace was brokered between the Seven Party Alliance and the Maoists, some Maoists have attempted to arm-twist those running a bottling plant for Coke. A little later, Dabur India was forced to shut down its research facilities in Nepal’s after receiving threats. Today’s Nepal needs stability, its people need development, and its economy, repair. Will the Maoists read the times right? Nepal’s future hinges on the answer.