Kathmandu: – One scenario has it that an interim government is in the making. Formal talks with the Maoists, which begin this week, are, according to this school of thought, likely to conclude in an interim government as prescribed by the Maoists, which will oversee elections. Whether these polls will mean a constituent assembly is perhaps more a topic for the talks itself.

The interim government will perhaps put paid to the current constitution since it is hardly a requirement of the current constitution and so a constituent assembly is not impossibility. The participation and representation in the interim government has thus become grist for current speculation and so eyes turn towards happenings in the major political parties.

One school of thought has it that the UML is virtually split on the question of participation in the talks and a government formed by the King.

There is another that says that the Congress is now a divided house after Shailaja Acharya has stated her preference for talks and participation at the King’s initiative. The rest of the parties have virtually signaled the need for an all-party government. Moreover, the Maoists are said to not want the leadership of such a government to go to the major parties.

It is thus possible now to foresee, firstly, a change in government headed by a King’s nominee in which most political forces are represented at the King’s initiative on grounds of talks with the Maoists. It is also possible to suggest that the opposition currently being taken as the public standpoint of the major parties will be softened by their failure to muster the masses against the current Royal measure.

If these speculations hold ground then one may well predict major change next month at the conclusion of the formal talks. The direction so far appears predictable too.