Nepal's political future uncertain

Kathmandu, Oct 9: The political future of Nepal looks more and more uncertain with the polls to elect the Constituent Assembly being deferred time and again.

The Constituent Assembly polls have been suspended for the third time and doubts are being raised whether the elections will ever be held in the Himalayan country.

The constitution of the Constituent Assembly is essential for deciding the future of monarchy in the country. The Maoists, have largely been blamed for the postponement of polls. The polls were suspended after the parties failed to break a deadlock that emerged after the Maoist withdrew from the government.

The former rebels have been demanding that the monarchy be abolished immediately by the interim parliament and the elections be held based on proportional representation. Other reports say that the Maoists want polls to be held as scheduled on October 22. The Maoists have intensified their drive asking for donations in Dolakha District saying that it is 'for waging yet another people"s movement to ensure Constituent Assembly election'.

The former rebels have written to various government offices, VDC"s, educational institutions and vehicle owners demanding donations for the cause. Having built their influence in commerce, the media and other areas of public life in the capital, the Maoists have one final objective left - to capture power, say the analysts.

Most analysts agree that the Maoists have little chance of doing this through competitive politics. They have lost much of their influence in the countryside, and are unpopular in the cities.

It was the failure of the democratic parties, the king, the army and other security agencies which made the Maoists' journey to the capital possible in the first place, say the analysts.

Now they have reached a point where they seem able to put a break on a national objective like holding elections, something that virtually the entire country had agreed on.

The analysts are not ruling out bloodshed between the Maoists and the army, which has already opposed the idea of the present interim Parliament declaring Nepal a republic.

The army is also reportedly unhappy about Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's Nepali Congress Party's recent decision to vote for the abolition of the monarchy when the Constituent Assembly meets.

Some leaders now say that democracy in Nepal is in serious danger.

ANI>