Kathmandu: That our mainstream parties are now desperate to catch up with the sensational government-Maoist cease fire breakthrough is evinced in their revised welcome of the events qualified with reservations regarding participation and content of talks. As politicians claiming the monopoly of organized politics in the country, they chose to question the very intents talks that have evidently sidelined their participation.
As if in response both government and the Maoist have begun contacts with the political parties which had previous to the breakthrough treated both as pariah. Government, as the party standpoints goes, is an unconstitutional extension of the usurped powers of parliament. The Maoist are undemocratic forces intended to overthrow the constitution itself.
Insinuations and innuendo apart, the unholy alliance suggested by the parties have not prevented their staking a claim to the talks and protesting with suspicious at the suddenness of it all. The talking parties on the other hand appear to be going about their business with occasional postures of public allegations at each other and the odd public gestured of reaching out.
Notwithstanding, these transparent moves, actual transparency on the contents of the talks and agreements on the coming developments have seemingly deliberately been kept a preserve of the talking partied alone. At one level, this would be a wise strategy of discretion given the stakes and previous experience. At another level, however, this grist for partisan talks of conspiracy.
It is predictable therefore that the coming days will see the mainstream political parties claiming more say in the talks for fear of being bypassed totally. The Congress has begun blowing hot and cold on the seemingly widening distance between themselves and the government. It awaits a UML response to their efforts for a united standpoints. The UML having concluded their convention would want to keep their options open. Nevertheless, the coming days would see the two mainstream parties coalesce in moves to nudge into the talks in the guise also a pressuring government. It will thus be safe to say that the immediate weeks may reflect such double-pronged postures in an attempt to rile up the streets. For the moment, the public at large remain anticipatory and thus will maintain a watch and see approach. Unfortunately, the government has yet to cash in.