MJF in commanding seat in Nepali politics

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 4 May: With 53 seats in parliament and the constituent assembly, MJF is now at the driving seat in politics.
Maoists, with 238 seats in the 601member parliament, need the support of MJF and 10 other lawmakers to retain control of the government.
MJF hasn’t yet quit government although it didn’t back Maoist decision to sack the army chief Sunday.
MJC Chief and Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav is in Cuba attending a foreign ministers conference of non-aligned nations.
Maoists held discussions with MJF leaders Monday to retain control of the five-month now shaky government.
CPN-UML and NSP have already quit government.
At alternative government of CPN-UML and Nepali Congress won’t be stable; the future of the Maoist-led government is shaky as well.
Congress has 114 and CPN-UML 109 seats in parliament; even if MJF quits government the three parties will have only 276 seats in parliament.
The new alliance of Congress, CPN-UML and MJF will need the support of 25 more lawmakers.
The drafting of a constitution will be delayed—a process that has to be completed in the remaining 12 months; the process has already been delayed.
The peace process will receive a jolt and the rehabilitation and integration of 19,000 plus Maoist combatants in UN camps will be further delayed.
President Dr Ram Baran Yadav said Maoist dismissal of Army Chief Gen Rukmangud Katawal was unconstitutional and procedurally incorrect while Maoists charged the head of state for staging a constitutional coup.
Both Nepal Army and PLA have been put on high alert.
Maoists haven’t succeeded in implementing their two-week threat to sack the army chief amid defiance from the army as well.
Prime Minister Prachanda will have difficulties facing militant factions in the party that is determined to impose a hard-line communist state after dethroning a 238-year old monarchy.
Hard-line communists and liberal republicans are on a direct confrontation course.
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