Kathmandu: Clearly the Maoists have been swinging the country’s politics in a manner that they prefer.

While the insurgents have adequate contacts with the major political parties, the lame duck government under Sher Bahadur Deuba is confined to making statements that “things were proceeding in the right direction”. What is also puzzling is that Deuba’s cabinet ministers are talking differently on the resumption of the peace talks with the Maoists and in the process they appear to be confusing the people. Different brains have been providing different interpretations to the peace talks.

The fact is that all that the people so far know is that the government is ready for the talks on certain conditions to the extent that the establishment has times and again said that it was ready to proceed with the idea of the constituent assembly provided conditions were attached to it. Understandably, when the government talks of attaching conditions to the talks then it clearly means that it would not compromise to the two concepts: the continuation of the constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy.

The Maoists too have made it abundantly clear through various statements that they will not come to the talks agreeing to the conditionalities pushed by the other camp.

This has stuck the resumption of the peace process, as far as could be seen.

However, what is so far not clear or has not been made clear by the Maoists is that what they wish to gain from the constituent assembly option? They have yet to spell out as to theirs opting to the constituent assembly is in no way going to damage the prospects of the continuation of the multi-party democracy. In the same vein the insurgents have so far not been clear as to whether they prefer the government to come to the talks by completely ignoring the ideal of the prevailing democratic system and the constitutional monarchical system in the country? Or whether the Maoists are coming to the talks so that they too could find a place in the mainstream politics of the country maintaining the status quo? The Maoists must now clarify as to what they need in effect? And they must now provide ample light on their would be role in case they get defeated in the constituent assembly elections? Would they abide by the fresh verdict if they fail? By the same token they must also clarify as to how they will proceed with the constituent assembly results if it went in their favor?

These were some of the pertinent questions that demand urgent clarifications and it is up to the insurgents to educate the people of their plans and would be actions on how they would wish the country to move?

What is also not clear is that what gains they wish to benefit from the constituent assembly elections? It is these that must come to the open prior to going to the talks.

In addition to these, what is also not clear is that if they come to the talks, would they come to the table throwing their avowed goals to the dustbin?

Under such circumstances, analysts say that unless both the sides express their real intentions and the agenda wherein they can compromise and where not, the talks would be mere talks only for the sake of talks.

This is what the majority of the population would love to hate. They need peace at any cost.