DIWAKAR CHETTRI
Even while the Election Commission and the Interim Electoral Council haggle over who should announce elections and dates, the political leadership is already in campaign mode. There are signs the elections (when, and if, they are held) are going to be a referendum on identity-based federalism.

Some leaders are campaigning in the districts, while Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal campaigns in the neighbourhood. He was in China last week and goes to India next week. Could it be that Dahal is trying to ingratiate himself to the two big neighbours as an insurance against possible prosecution for wartime excesses?

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Federal expression

Mr Dahal goes to Delhi