The right kind of alliance, Nagarik

By creating the Federal Democratic Republican Alliance (FDRA) Pushpa Kamal Dahal has opened up a front against the opposition. The establishment of this alliance has made it clear that Dahal intends to polarise Nepal's political landscape by using the ethnic card and delaying the possibility of elections. This will provide his party another opportunity to plunder the government exchequer by bringing out a partial budget in a month's time.

The Maoists have been cleverly championing the federalism issue and painting the opposition as anti-federal forces. By solely defining federalism along ethnic lines, they have not only manipulated the agenda, but turned political fronts into an ethnic one by mobilising popular sentiments. They blame the opposition for dissolving the CA and delaying the constitution. They accuse the President for being an obstacle in holding elections, but at the same time do not want him to use special powers to end the constitutional deadlock by amending the constitution and making way for elections.

On the other hand, the NC's reluctance to participate in elections has stopped the party from creating an opposition front and provided impetus to the Maoist strategy. It is essential for the NC to head an opposition front by including Upendra Yadav and Mohan Baidya led factions against FDRA. However, as long as Upendra Yadav does not give up his Madhes Pradesh rhetoric and Baidya does not let go of the demand for ethnic states, such an alliance is unlikely.

There is little reason to trust those who are calling for the reinstatement of the CA and who want the constitution to be declared through the CA by consensus. The deadlock created by the demand for two Madhes Pradesh will not be resolved through balance of power in the reinstated body. So the opposition parties must seize the moment by creating an alliance in favour of new elections.