No Clear Verdict
The cover story CA Poll: Fractured Mandate (April 25-May 1) revealed many important things regarding the present political state. With the announcement of final results, it has clearly indicated that people have not given clear mandate to any political party. Although CPN-Maoist emerged as the largest political party, it too does not have enough votes to form the government. According to the present mandate, it is inevitable to see another phase of political deadlock where no one can form government on their own.
Yogesh Rai
Via-email
Confusion Persists
I agree with your cover story that this is a fractured mandate. There is a confusion among the large number of people that Maoists have a mandate to rule the country including making the constitution. However, nobody has found time to read certain peculiar articles of this interim constitution, which was a bi-product of 12 point agreements. Unlike other constitutions, this constitution has made it clear that the government cannot be formed without securing either political consensus of seven party alliance or two third majority in the constituent assembly election. However, it is very strange to see even foreigners including Indian officials, intellectuals and other western diplomats based in Nepal meeting Maoist leader Prachanda as the leader of new government. Securing just 30 percent popular votes does not give Maoists a mandate to impose their rule. If that is democracy, I don't have anything to say.
Shreeram Bastakoti
Perth, Australia via- email
Unfounded Claim
Although they have secured just about 30 percent of popular votes, Maoist leaders don't mind claiming that people have voted their agenda and endorsed their 12 years long violent insurgency. Actually, people have rejected their programs and proposals by giving less than 30 percent votes. However, I don't understand on what ground Maoists are claiming to form next government on their own. As a party advocating communist totalitarianism, Maoists have shown that they don't believe in multi-party competition and democratic process. It is also foolishness on the part of people like us to believe that Maoists will accept the multi-party competitive politics. Communists are communists, whatever school of thought they belong to.
Jashmina Limbu
Via-email
Totally Biased
Your cover story CA Poll: Fractured Mandate (April 25-May 1) is totally biased. I don't agree with you that it was a fractured mandate. Actually, voters gave a clear cut mandate to Maoists to rule Nepal and draft People's Constitution as it has secured highest votes establishing itself as the single largest party. At a time when capitalist and imperialist forces have been making every effort to discredit communists and Mao, Nepalese people have shown that they like this ideology. This also gives us pride as well as encouragement to wage a revolution to restore the rights of oppressed farmers and workers. Indian communists have to learn the way to capture the power through the ballot. I would like to congratulate comrade Prachanda and his colleagues for making the historic change in Nepal.
Manoj Mishra
Patna Bihar, Via Email
Worried Lot
After reading the face to face with Chinese ambassador to Nepal Zheng Xianglin, it worries me about the future of Nepal. Backed and supported by foreign powers, near and far, so called Tibetan refugees are trying to make Nepal as a launching pad to destabilize China. Guided from Dharmashala, India, headquarters of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, these so called Tibetan refugees are misusing their status and creating problems for Nepal. As Nepal and India have open border, it is easy for them to cross the border from south where Tibetans are given safe sanctuary. As Chinese ambassador mentioned in his interview, many Tibetans like us who love our motherland China are living under constant threat. We need protection from these so called refugees coming from their base in India. In the last one month, many new faces have already entered in the areas like Bouddha and Jawalakhel. I hope Nepal government will look after the security of genuine Tibetans who love their motherland China.
T. Lama
Bouddha via-email
Boring Politics
It was boring to read political stories in Spotlight for the last two months. The time has come now to shift the attention to other areas like economic development, social changes, education and other issues. With the completion of the election for the CA, the time has now come to launch economic development programs. Nepal has been facing many problems including unemployment, low quality of education, poverty and so on. Politics is just one of the problems and common people have nothing to do with it. As in the past, I hope Spotlight will cover all those issues ignored by mainstream newspapers.
Shwastika Sainju
Via-email
