National 2 (Spotlight Weekly)

Shifting Gears

The central council positions the ruling rightist party firmly in favor of the constituent assembly signaling ideological departure and deepening of instability

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

Two weeks after its founding leader Surya Bahadur Thapa walked out from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) alleging it of deviating from its core principles, its central council meeting formally announced that the party is ready to go for the elections of the constituent assembly.

The decision marks a radical shift in the policy of RPP, which has been consistently rejecting any fundamental changes in the current constitution. The party had never supported the idea of unconditional constituent assembly in the past.

Furthermore, by coming out with strong criticisms against the government in which it is also a partner, the RPP has also signaled the deepening of political instability. Majority of the party leaders including the president Pashupati SJB Rana himself had expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of the government.

Having opened the doors for the election of constituent assembly, the right-of-center ruling coalition partner has positioned itself in the same plank with other leftist and regional parties.

Rana (right) with Chand : Engaged in deliberations

“The party has recognized that constituent assembly is one of the means. And if the Maoists are willing to end their violence and if there is a national consensus, the RPP is ready to go for the elections of the constituent assembly,” said RPP spokesperson Roshan Karki.

“It is interesting to note that a rightist and liberal party like RPP could sway from its core principles to adopt constituent assembly – which could turn out to be a misadventure for the whole country – so soon. It, in fact, further proves our allegations that the current leadership’s commitment to principles is shaky,” said a dissident leader of RPP.

Likewise, the party has also agreed to go for other demands raised by the Maoists including holding the political conference and forming interim government. The central council also decided that the party would always stick to its policy of constitutional monarchy.

However, the party has ruled out the possibility of the reinstatement of the House of Representatives.

At a time when the demand for activation of the present constitution was gaining ground, the decisions by liberal parties like RPP to reject House reinstatement and to doubt holding of parliamentary elections indicates that the political instability in which the country is currently embroiled is nowhere near its end.

Political analysts fear that the central council conclusions would not be able to avert another vertical split in the RPP. “Thapa has already walked out and there is little possibility that he will return,” said an analyst.

Although the council did decide to hold special convention of the party within next three months under intense pressure from the cadres, it could have come ‘too late.’ The Thapa faction had been demanding the special convention before it decided to break away.

The swift developments within the ruling coalition partner, however, is not likely to have any significant impact on the Deuba government for the time being. Although many RPP leaders led by its vice president Padma Sundar Lawati spewed venom against its performance and even went to the extent of demanding that the party step down, it is unlikely that Rana will make such a move anytime soon. In fact, such a move could push Rana to the back-foot as it was his decision to join Deuba’s rainbow coalition after actively campaigning against its predecessor Thapa government even though RPP was single-handedly running the administration then.

“The party is certainly unhappy with the way the government is functioning. We would like to see the peace process more vigorously pursued,” said Karki.

Seen from a broader perspective, the continuous squabbling within the party; the splits and breakaways; and persistent criticism of the government despite being a part of it marks the continuation of the phase of instability currently gripping the country.