Troubled Waters
Soon after the EC unveiled election schedule, Maoists have released their routine of agitation
By SANJAYA DHAKAL
As only three months remain for the November 22 Constituent Assembly (CA) elections, the major parties have failed to generate confidence among the general population.
Instead of preparing manifestoes and organizing electoral rallies, the major parties are either locked in paralyzed state of indifference or, in the case of Maoists, have gone ahead and announced separate schedule of street agitations.
By unveiling the 22-point demands/preconditions for the elections and warning street agitations ostensibly to create ‘framework’ for the election, the Maoists have disappointed even those who had earnestly believed that they would come to the mainstream of plural democracy in the country.
In the wake of the fifth plenum where majority of party leaders and workers took the top leadership to task for ‘abandoning the revolution,’ the Maoist leaders were under pressure to do something. And they seem to have relented with the declaration of the agitation.
“The Maoist leadership seems to be in a dilemma. Although they want to stick with the peace process, the pressure has been so great that they could not convince their workers and now they have to show that they are doing something. Unfortunately, this will further weaken their positions since it will only trigger distrusts and mistrusts among the ruling alliance as well as international community,” said a political commentator.
The Maoist leaders have defended their decision by saying that their agitation will actually create favorable atmosphere for polls.
“It is strange to find some people accusing us of trying to disrupt the polls. The Constituent Assembly has been our agenda so how can anyone else support it more than we do,” claimed senior Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai.
On Monday (August 20), Prachanda and Dr. Bhattarai, in his capacity as coordinator of United Revolutionary Front, issued separate statements putting forth 22-point preconditions.
They have declared a series of agitation programs in the next two months. Their major demands include announcement of republic from the parliament before CA polls and proportional electoral system. Otherwise, they have warned, they will launch agitation from the streets, from the parliament and from the government. Till mid-September, they have said they will engage in publicity campaigns and mobilize workers. From mid-September, they will launch demonstrations, political strikes and take “people’s action” against regressive elements.
The Maoist decision has perturbed other leaders of the seven parties who say that the agitation at this juncture could only end up disrupting the polls.
The Maoist plan of agitation came a day after the Election Commission (EC) approved the election schedule as well as code of conduct for the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections.
The EC has stated in its statement that the filing of nominations for the candidates of direct election will open on October 5 and the final list of candidates will be published on October 10. Likewise, for proportional representation based election, the parties will have to submit their closed list of candidates on September 30 while the final list of candidatures will be out on November 2.
The EC has approved the Constituent Assembly Election Code of Conduct 2064 for the political parties, their candidates, electoral officials and the media. As stated in the Code of Conduct, each candidate of the direct voting can spend a maximum of Rs 459,500 on election campaign whereas the candidates of proportional electoral system can spend up to Rs 50,000. All kinds of opinion polls since the opening of registration of candidature till the end of voting will be banned.
The Code of Conduct strictly discourages use of provocative expression against particular community, ethnic group, religion, linguistic group or region. It also bans use of publicity materials made of plastic and has restricted mass meetings and rallies within 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. It prohibits writing slogans and sticking pamphlets in walls/houses of private citizens. It also prohibits the parties from staging rallies by disturbing public movement. The code of conduct also alerts media to be accurate, balanced and unbiased in their reporting. Those found violating the code of conduct could face various punishments. The EC can even cancel the candidature if one is found to have serious violated the code.
Furthermore, even Jwala Singh faction of the Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha has unveiled its set of programs warning to derail the elections. Terming the dialogue offer by the government as a drama, the JTMM-J has said that Constituent Assembly election will not liberate Terai. Issuing a statement, Jwala Singh, chief of the armed outfit, has claimed that hill-regime does not have the authority to hold the election in Terai.
Amid these developments, the government is in a race against time to create a favorable atmosphere to hold the election on schedule. But the alternative is even more incomprehensible.
