Prachanda's promise

Finally Nepal has a President and Premier both elected; former rebel Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal popularly known as ‘Prachanda’ became the first republican Prime Minister. Nepal has dismissed the age-old monarchy and Maoists are on the job to take the nation forward on the path of development, though there is a lot hurdle left as in any democratic set up, especially in a coalition government to address on.

Prachanda, chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), secured 464 votes to defeat his close rival and former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in a 551-member assembly, but not without the support of Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist – Leninist (CPN-UML) and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) who extended their support differing from a three-party alliance to Nepali Congress (NC) formed barely a three weeks ago.

The new cabinet where major portfolios are under Maoists including defence, finance and planning it would be interesting to make out the proceedings in the lead of a Maoist government. Moreover, the difference with its alliance partner on various issues such as right to property and land, independent judiciary and the inclusion of liberation force (maoists armed rebels) in Nepal Army would need attention.

This is the first time that Maoists have taken office through the electoral process and they are into a new establishment shifting from their violent Maoist movement to mainstream politics, however, Prachanda has a lot more to prove to keep intact the three major parties – the CPN (Maoist), CPN (UML), and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) – on the basis of a common minimum programme (CMP).

Prachanda has moved straight way to a democratic set up by steering his party to a victory in April assembly elections after a peace deal to abolish monarchy and set up a constitution. The Maoists leader has already resigned from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) as per his commitment to a peaceful democracy. He has also agreed that all near about 20,000 rebels will be disarmed under United Nations supervision within the next six months. But, the prime minister needs to take some intelligent, fast and suitable action wiping out any defiant approach that can only take the nation into stability as commitment to democracy.