With polls put off, Nepal faces uncertain future

The missed opportunity also marked the first anniversary of the signing of the comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed between Prime Minister G P Koirala and CPN-M chief Prachanda, which later renounced end of politics of violence that his party had been pursuing in the country since February 1996. However, none of the key provisions of the CPA have been implemented that further makes the peace process uncertain.

The leaders of the seven parties controlling the Government, except the Maoists, did not quite hesitate to make fresh promise to hold the CA poll by mid-April, that marks the end of the current year of the Nepali calender.

“We are keen that the election takes place soon,” senior leaders of the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal-United marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) said after their meeting. Koirala gave similar assurance to visiting former US President Jimmy Carter when they met earlier in the day.

But Maoists were not quite keen to set a new deadline. Instead, they insisted that the Government should first agree to adopt the proportional representation system of election and abolish the monarchy right away to create a conducive atmosphere for election.

Informal Sector Service Centre, a leading rights organisation, said at least 234 people lost their lives in the country during the period after the peace agreement was signed.

While the state accounts for 28 deaths, rest were carried by the Maoist and various armed groups in the country indicating that the prevailing law and order situation was not conducive for free and fair poll.