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The recently concluded municipal polls in Neal has generated mixed reaction both in and out of the country. Even here, in the United States, the Nepali community and Nepal’s American friends too have expressed diverse opinions. In an atmosphere where the candidates were fearing for their lives and the voters too were feeling quite insecure, the percentage of the polling cannot be said to be very disappointing. For people like us who long for lasting peace in Nepal and have been away from the country for quite a long time, the polls have come and gone as a silver lining in the dark clouds enveloping the troubled country. Boycott of the elections by the agitating seven parties have clearly exposed their true character. Firstly, it is against the democratic behavior and secondly, they knew they would fare very badly in elections not conducted by themselves. The boycott by the Maoists, the Maoists should have known, will further jeopardize their chances of joining the mainstream of Nepali politics. Despite the Maoist threats of dire consequences for participating in polls, the disturbances during the polls were minimal. This must serve as a good signal for the general polls which should be taken in less than two years. The uncalled for criticism of the polls by some representatives of friendly governments based in Kathmandu have not been in good taste and in direct violation of the diplomatic norms. HMG of Nepal should have taken proper action against them. But the nominated government, not enjoying the confidence and support of the people, could not pluck the courage of rising to the occasion.
The municipal polls should serve as an eye opener for all those who love Nepal and are Nepal’s well wishers. Since peace is indispensable for a successful general election, all the characters in Nepal’s political drama must give serious consideration on how to achieve and sustain it. Because of her size and might and because of her unfounded obsession of security threat, India’s policy toward Nepal has failed to win the hearts of the Nepali people. They have only generated mistrusts and misgivings. Nepal’s vulnerable geography, on the other hand, has further aggravated the situation by making Nepal unduly suspicious of India’s motives. Both have failed or ignored each others’ sensitivities and taken recourse to useless rhetorics. Now is the most crucial time for both to acknowledge their past mistakes and work for sincerely winning each other’s trust and confidence. Since India cannot shirk her ultimate responsibility of maintaining peace in the region for which Nepal’s unstinted friendship and cooperation is indispensable for her. Nepal, on the other hand, cannot overlook the reality that her peace and economic development wholly depend on India’s friendship and good will.
King Gyanendra is wise and experienced. The gamble he has taken cannot afford to fail and has to bear productive fruits – which is the general elections in the stipulated time. The trend of eroding his popularity must be arrested without losing any undue delay. He must not procrastinate in finding out the reasons for it. Monarchy is still a revered institution and in the context of our national politics, indispensable. What the Maoist supremo thinks about monarchy should not bother patriotic Nepalis. If he is a truly patriotic Nepali he must be able to ascertain what is good for the country and not get carried away by selfish motives and unattainable utopian dreams. The Maoists are not that naïve not to understand that their ambition to rule Nepal will never come true due to reasons they should know better. The discredited politicians have lost their sense of judgment being deprived of power for such a long time. Nepal’s good friends, the most powerful influences in international politics, must leave towing the Indian line and must come out clean by stopping to play their double game, a game which can prove to be disastrous even in their own interests. Consequently, they must stop pressurizing King Gyanendra in support of the corrupt and anti-national politicians of Nepal. They must never lose sight of the fact that if King Gyanendra fails, only those elements who do not respect the laws and the rules of the land and may pose grave threat to humanity only, will succeed. King Gyanendra too must not remain complacent on the advice of persons whose visions are narrow and must look out for men with dynamism who can prove to be great assets by rendering advice which will contribute towards his lasting success.
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