Well, Yesterday CPN Maoist’s plenum unanimously endorsed chairman Prachanda’s political and organizational report, which states that proportional electoral system and declaration of a republic are preconditions for the upcoming Constituent Assembly elections. But the Maoists’ latest preconditions have seriously raised questions over their intention of Constituent Assembly (CA) Polls. Though their meeting has stated that the elections on November 22 are essential in order to bring about a peaceful revolt but their action have always been contrary to their words.
There are only 105 days left for much-awaited CA Polls. CPN Maoist and other Seven Political Parties agreed on mixed-proportional electoral system. Based on Nepal’s Interim Constitution 2063 and other Election Laws, Election Commission is busy in preparation. Voter education is going on, other necessary planning are being carried out but now CPN Maoists wants to change the entire system.

It was already agreed that CA Polls would decide the fate of Monarchy but Maoists wants declaration of Republic ASAP. They say if their 2 preconditions are not met, it’s worthless to have CA Polls. Does CA polls is just for declaration of Republic? Isn’t CA polls of entire restructure of Nepal and making it inclusive in terms of everything? How Maoists can set preconditions for the polls it previously agreed?

Political parties do not understand the ground reality. They are just worried that their agenda is not chosen or not being implied. Even if we decided to go full proportional electoral system, it will take ages to formulate regarding laws, educating voters and other preparations. So that means there won’t be CA Polls on November 22 (Mangsir 06, 2064 B.S.). Seeing activities of Young Communist League (YCL) of CPN Maoists, many parties were accusing them of shying away of polls, but now their preconditions have proved those allegations right. We had thoughts that only Pro-Palace people are not willing to go for polls and trying to obstruct polls, but CPN Maoists is also not ready for polls.

Why Maoists are not ready for polls? The reasons could be their dwindling popularity among people. During war period, people were afraid of them. Anyway who dared to speak against guns? Those who did, they are now counted among 13000 dead or lying somewhere helplessly. After April Uprising, people have huge expectation from them. But there’s one proverb in Nepali “Jun Jogi aaye pani kanai chireka”, they too were proved just another Kan Chireko Jogi. Their rule of terror didn’t go. In the form of YCL, they kept their terror. Joining government also, they couldn’t function well. All these and other unseen reason decreased their popularity. Now going to poll could fail them miserably. So they are trying to hold off the poll and in the mean time win people’s trust.

So they have now used two very popular cards i.e. full proportional electoral system and declaration of Republic. Well, they were in favor of these cards from beginning but later conceded to mixed-electoral system and decision on Monarchy by first meeting of CA Polls. If they are ready for polls, then why suddenly now they want these pre-conditions. Their intention is crystal clear, they don’t want election now.

Another irony is, full proportional system means parties have to allocate their parliamentary seats including every sector, every community of society, but they themselves are not inclusive. Either that’s Nepali Congress or CPN UML or CPM Maoists or any other parties, all are not transparently democratic and inclusive. All parties hue cry to make country and government inclusive but they themselves are not committed to inclusiveness.

For election, only Election Commission is worried. Instead of going to people and helping them to understand importance of CA Polls, parties are busy themselves giving speeches on polls condition. They say polls can’t be held on specific period. What’s happening to them? Do they forget we fought for entire abolishment of feudalism and establishment of democratic and transparent system? We didn’t fight against King to take parties to power. We fought for change, we fought for peace and we fought for democratization and development of Nepal. But it seems everyone is forgetting the spirit of April Uprising.