Tragic end of CA ushers Nepal to new era of uncertainty

(From Commentary section)
Kathmandu 28th May 2012

Nepal's much hoped Constituent Assembly has come crashing down yesterday in midnight after the politicians failed even to salvage the body, let alone write and promulgate constitution. After days of turmoil that preceded the anticipated date for promulgation of the to-be-borne republican constitution, the end of the body has been tragic.

After the tragic development, the mood of common people has been profoundly foul given the fact most, including the author, were highly optimistic of some form of compromise among the wrangling political parties till midnight yesterday so that some form of constitution could have been promulgated making way for continued life of the CA as legislature parliament.



At the end none has won, to say the least. Those to loose the most are the leading political parties including the UCPN(Maoist), the largest party in the then CA. Leaders are clearly demoralized but there scramble for the ashes of the the system that had evolved for four years rages unabated.

In the long run, however, there is little the politicians are going to loose personally; it is the under-privileged and marginalized people who will wait for agonizing period of transition once again to see if something would be done for them in the new system, if at all.

The political future of the government also looks cloudy as the suddenly powerful president (former leader of Nepali Congress, the main opposition party) is not understood to be in good terms with the incumbent government led by the Maoists. Much will depend now on what path the president chooses and the proposal of the PM to hold new elections in Mangsir is now at his mercy.