Kathmandu: The Maoist ideologue, Dr. Babu Ram Bhatarai, has freshly reiterated that his party would not settle for less than elections to a constituent assembly.
Dr. Bhattarai, however, has said that though the idea of going to the constituent assembly might boomerang but yet his party was all ready to accept the verdict of the people thus coming from the elections to the assembly.
In saying so Dr. Bhattarai perhaps hints that the results of the constituent assembly might politically benefit the other rival camp, that is the monarchy as well.
Nevertheless, Dr. Bhattarai says that the minimum bottom-line for his party was still a constituent assembly but with no “conditions attached”.
In an article printed lately perhaps in a broadsheet daily Tuesday, Dr. Bhattarai laments the abrupt change in stance of President Koirala who had hinted in Biratnagar that he would not favor elections to a constituent assembly come what may.
Dr. Bhattrai should now remain assured that Koirala, known for his changing stances as and when the climatic conditions change in Kathmandu, Monday afternoon has declared what Dr. Bhattarai would wish from him.
Certainly, Koirala’s fresh posture would forcefully enhance Maoists demand for a constituent assembly now.
Dr. Bhattarai in the same article has warned all those who conclude that containing the Maoists would be an easier task if the monarchy and the parliamentary parties formed a sort of front and foght against the Maoists insurgency.
“If some one considers so then I would wish to sound them all that in that changed scenario, the idea of going to the constituent assembly will be a matter left to the pages of history and that the history would be forced to take up an entirely new direction”, concludes Dr. Bhattrai.
This means that Dr. Bhattarai thinks that there was a force still active in Nepal that would wish to isolate the Maoists by bringing in the monarchy and the parliamentary parties closer to deal with the Maoists.
How the powers that be in Kathmandu react to Dr. Bhattarai’s stern warnings will have to be carefully observed.