A Jumbo cabinet is going to rule the Nepalis, already debilitated by extreme poverty, all-pervasive corruption and cruel black market. Sources say the cabinet members are likely to number from 24-34 in coming weeks.
Following the Constituent Assembly (CA) poll, the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoist) emerged as the largest party winning seats two times more than the Nepali Congress (NC) and the Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML).
The NC and the UML served the former monarchy and tailored their policies to the needs of multinational corporations and Western interests, tremendously jeopardizing the national interests of the country.
As they went on doing what the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and other missionary INGOs prescribed, multiplied crises drove Nepal into the 10-year long armed insurgency that killed almost 15,000 people, many of them innocent civilians not involved in battles.
The pro-monarchy government run by the NC and supported by the UML arrested and killed more than 8,000 people just because they morally supported the Maoist-led People’s War led by the Maoists.
All-pervasive corruption, ill-governance and maintenance of political nexus with criminal gangs, including smugglers and black-marketers, have become the chief features in Nepali politics.
Over-annoyed by such problems, the Nepalis have democratically mandated the Maoists to lead the nation by providing leadership not only in the new government but also in the process of drafting a new republican, multi-ethnic and federal constitution.
The Nepalis have elected the world’s most inclusive Constituent Assembly through the 10 April election.
But the change-resisting forces such as the NC and the UML created hurdles and stopped a new government from taking a shape for four months.
The mass media, politically and commercially manipulated, knowingly or unknowingly, have resisted the former rebels’ emergence in the mainstream scenario of Nepali politics. Consequently, unverified news dissemination has contributed to the heightening and deepening of conflicts. Certain incidents between two political wings take place, and deliberatelydistorted and colored news stories are disseminated. This, many have felt, has not helped conflict transformation.
Maoists, the ex-rebels, have fallen into power traps. Before the CA poll took place, they had not exposed their thirst for power. But after they have got an opportunity to lead the new post-CA poll government, they have shown more love for power, isolating themselves terribly from people.
Villagers complain that Maoist activists have rarely contacted them after the election. They complain that the newly formed combating force YOUTH FORCE led by the UML has been threatening and even attacking them in villages under various pretexts but the Maoist activists have not bothered to listen to them.
Rural people have talked against the concept of jumbo cabinet in a starving nation. Leaders, mainly through corruption, become prosperous in no time but people get poorer and poorer, people often complain.
If the political parties remain active merely for the sake of securing positions and authority in the government, they are not going to impress the poor masses any more.
Just slogans do not feed people. They need food, shelter and clothing. They need education and health. But all these basic needs are getting beyond their affordability because a limited section of the whole population have been controlling the nationwide markets and all the resources of the country.
If the political parties do not dedicate themselves to changing this situation, they are going to lose their rationale soon since the people’s plight is reaching the climax. Another civil war may be unavoidable.
Especially, the NC and the UML have not practically accepted the emergence of Maoists as the mainstream force. Their behavioral attitude shows that they are in a position to work with Maoists only if Maoists remain a subordinate force to them. But they have not cultured a democratic attitude to accept the people-elected party as the leader.
Similarly, Maoists, who were the anti-establishment force previously, have to develop their communication and public relations. Uni-party methodologies may not work well in conflict
transformation, they have to realize. Conflict transformation involves various variables that they have to understand accurately and address wisely.
Maoists need to be clear that people elected them as the largest force not only because they fought 10 years for people but also because they have certain visions, agenda and ethical commitments different from the existing rulers. If they deviate from such characteristics, they cannot expect to grow as they are now.
Finally, reducing the cabinet size may not be possible as many parties are stakeholders in the newly formed government. Even fringe parties that have got only one elected CA member have been demanding a ministerial position as a condition for their support to the government.
In the next election, people will have to give a two-third majority to the party that can prove the most useful during the peace process. If so, decision-making and cabinet formation will be easy.