Prachanda calls for formation of a ‘consensus’ government; NC calls for a ‘majoritarian’ model to be incorporated; Shiv Shanker Mukherjee to be replaced by Rakesh Sood; Prachanda calls for the scrapping of the 1950 Indo-Nepal treaty
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    • Uncertainties still surround the formation of a ‘consensus’ government after the victory of the Maoists in the CA elections. The Nepali Congress (NC) is split over whether it should join the Maoist-led government1. The main complication has arisen from the constitutional provision that requires backing of two-thirds majority for removing the government in power. The NC has objected to this clause stating that this would make the removal of the Maoist government difficult and therefore instead of a two-thirds majority, it has called for a “majoritarian model” to be incorporated. The Maoists however have expressed serious objections to this proposal2. Prachanda on his part has called upon all the concerned parties to form a consensus–based government and to “collectively write a new constitution3.”

    While the Maoists have garnered around 120 seats in the 240 constituencies under the First-past the post system, the NC is placed second at 37 seats, followed by the CPN-UML at 33 seats. The Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum has bagged 30 seats, all of them in the Terai region4.

    Though the US has congratulated the Maoists formally for their victory, the State Department Tom Casey has noted that the status of the Maoists as a terrorist organization would be reviewed. Legal formalities have been cited as the main reason by the United States for continuing their status quo attitude towards the Maoists5.

    The outgoing Indian envoy to Kathmandu Shiv Shankar Mukherjee met Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala during the week. Mr. Mukherjee is being replaced by Rakesh Sood6. On Indo-Nepal bilateral ties, Prachanda has demanded that the 1950 Indo-Nepal treaty be scrapped off and declared that a ‘new’ relationship would be sought with India. He however added that Nepal would seek a “positive and constructive relationship with New Delhi7.”

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