Kathmandu: King Gyanendra has come out clearer still. His reaffirmation that he will stick to the constitutional process and nudge the country’s polity towards elections sends the political parties to a further scurry of confusion. He has been asking for their cooperation in the formation of an impartial, clean government that can remove the impediments to elections, conduct the elections and restore parliament. In Pokhara, he has set the election date.
The agitating political parties now ridicule the date claiming that the impossibility of elections manifests the King’s regressive ambitions. The fact is that their cooperation in government lacking and the Maoists insurgency being as it is, the elections will not take place. On the other hand, their cooperation forthcoming would set the ball rolling for decisive negotiations with the insurgents to remove the impediments for elections.
It is thus that the political parties must take up the election cudgel or be ignored outright. As yet their standpoints help marginalize them in the body politic confusing the peace process. Of this, as Pokhara once again proved, the people are aware. Despite tremendous security constraints imposed purposely by the Maoists blockade and timed with the Royal visit in the region, and despite virulent opposition to the Royal visit by the agitating parties, the success of the Pokhara felicitations very much indicates that the people are increasingly turning to the King for a solution to the national crisis. Pokhara, moreover, indicates that despite the popular pressure, the King can’t but insist on the constitutional process to resume under the current setup.
It is thus that whatever the agitation, it is in the ranks of the political parties that a real assessment of the situation that must force a change in strategy if the people are not to be polarized between the King and the Maoists.