Evolving Nepal’s New Polity

Why in news?

A month after the Left Alliance won Nepal’s parliamentary elections, government hasn’t been formed yet.

What is the situation?

• Upper House of the National Assembly was to be indirectly elected by the provincial assemblies, but there was a disagreement on the type of election.
• A long-pending ordinance in late December 2017, that allowed indirect elections based on the single transferable vote, settled this issue.
• But the overall government formation is still being delayed due to other procedural issues.
• These are mainly issues concerning the appointing of provincial governors and choosing capitals, which currently is proving challenging.
• Notably, leading political parties aren’t inclined to take political stands regarding capitals as it has been leading to several protests.
• Hence, the current outgoing caretaker governments of NC should work for easing these issues with the guidance of the victorious Left-alliance.

What is the way forward?

• The decisive electoral mandate in the polls has put the responsibility of operationalising the provincial model on the Left Alliance.
• Once the process of nominations to the National Assembly is complete the election of the Prime Minister will follow.
• While UML leader K.P. Oli is a surety for the choice of Prime Ministership, it needs to be done soon for Nepal’s cause.
• Significantly, Nepal has been having a stagnant economy since the decade long civil war and it is largely dependent on remittances from abroad.
• To change the status quo, a stable polity needs to take shape.

Source: The Hindu