Kathmandu: Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai is in the news.

In the process, he is pushing in his novel theories which he wishes to practice in the country and hopes that his theories if adopted and thoroughly practiced would do away with the various ailments that have gripped the country of late.

However, at times he appears himself politically confused. That he is confused comes to the fore when he hints that he is “with” the parliamentary parties and concurrently hints that he would continue to continue the “talks” with the old regime even if the parliamentary parties ignore their parleys with the representative of the old regime which is in their opinion the government appointed by the King.

Where this architectural engineer turned frirebrand rebel is not confused and is vocal is regarding his blunt observation on the 1990 constitution.

“The 1990 constitution stands dead at the moment. The nation is in a state of constitutionless”, so says Dr. Bhattarai hinting those political leaders who have been demanding that the derailed constitution be brought to the track.

In saying so Dr. Bhattarai also rejects the possibility of the restoration of the now dissolved parliament and the formation of an all party government by the parliamentary parties.

What Bhattarai says is interesting indeed. In effect, according to the Maoist ideologue, the aforesaid demands if met would mean to strengthen again the hands of the monarch which in his eyes would not lead the country “forward” which is what he and his party were longing for since seven years or so.

Making it more clear, he then suggests his compatriots in other parties to refrain from making efforts in giving a new lease of life to the already dead constitution but should direct their entire efforts at making an altogether a “new constitution” which is “forward looking”.

The political parties reject his theories and opine that the changes that the rebels have been seeking for could well be managed by simply “improving” the 1990 constitution that would take proper care of the rebels’ demands.

Dr. Bhattarai remains adamant.

He however, accepts the ground political reality and says that there do exist three equally competent and powerful forces in the present day context. In his opinion, if all these three forces are put together, it would mean the dawn of a very progressive environment in the country.

Dr. Bhattarai would wish that the would be constitution should be written in a manner wherein no clauses or for that matter any Article should be made unchangeable and mandatory. The political parties reject this and opine that they would not settle for less that a parliamentary system with constitutional monarchy.

One very interesting political comment comes from Dr. Bhattarai. He says that the Article 127 is counting its last breath. According to him, the article 127 could even be considered to have already died a premature death after the lapse of the first six months of its use in October last year.

If this were politically valid then should this mean that the nation is being run on an adhoc basis?

The fact is also that the parliament stands dissolved. The local level bodies remain defunct. Chances of elections to the parliament appear remote given the present day politics in the country. The government is a nominated one. Critics say the constitution is half dead or event it is full dead.. For a minute if one thinks that the 1990 constitution is yet alive then as per the constitution, the elections should take place well within six months of the dissolution of the parliament. The fact is that the parliament stands dissolved since more than seven months or so. Moreover, the constitution says that to continue as the minister one has to get elected well within six months. The present days ministers do not have that legality if the dictates of the constitution is taken into account.

All put together, what comes to the fore is that the nation is already in in a major constitutional crisis. Who will unknot these constitutional knots no body knows except the Almighty.

Back to Dr. Bhattarai:

In an interview published in a Tuesday vernacular weekly, Dr. Bhattarai also warns the parliamentary parties for their non-participation at the talks with the government that they would be left in the cold if they do not understand the gravity of the talks with the government.

“They should join the talks. If they do not join, the bus will depart. The history will move forward which would mean that the parliamentary parties would be left behind”, so says Dr. Bhattarai.

Not very surprisingly, minister Narayan Pun too had talked about the bus that were soon to leave from the “conflict town” to “peace town”. Striking resemblance indeed. Does this speak of some thing?

But that is not all. Dr. Bhattarai concludes his Dristi interview with a happy note. He says that “we think we could be able to bring all the forces together. What is important at this stage is the larger interest of the nation and the people. One has to forget the petty interests and make an effort that heralds a “common solution” to the present imbroglio”.

A Himalayan surprise indeed. The language that the political parties had been using for the rebels till the other day is being now used by the rebels and that too in a mild and constructive tone the honesty of which is yet to be seen.

By and large, what comes to the fore from Dr. Bhattarai’s assertions is that the talks will proceed if the talks favored their agenda. What if the talks go the other way round? Keep on guessing.