As most rural parts of Nepal will be busy harvesting paddy crops, the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists (CPN-M) will be spearheading what it calls the decisive ‘third people’s revolt’ to capture power in Kathmandu. Soon after CPN-M Chief Prachanda’s return from his weeklong visit to China, the party set a November 1 deadline, to launch the ‘revolt’ that aims to establish itself as the sole controller of power.

The Maoists have put forward clear pre-conditions should government and the parties opposed want to avoid such a revolt. First, Prime Minister Madhav Nepal, who they have declared a ‘puppet of foreign lords’, should quit. Second, President Rambaran Yadav should either publicly admit he was wrong in reinstating the army chief, sacked by Prachanda in his capacity as the prime minister in May, or the House should debate that move in a manner the Maoists want.

But the Maoists have thus far refused to accept most other parties’ advice that if at all they are keen on debating the President’s act, they must bring forward an impeachment motion.

As Nepal’s unique parliamentary practice envisages an ideal atmosphere in the House — any obstruction or slogan shouting by members individually or in group lead to adjournments — Maoists have stalled its proceedings for the past three months. The government has not been able to have its budget passed because of such obstruction and now has less than two weeks time.

The consequence are obvious. In fact, Maoists have moved smartly in the past five months after Prachanda’s resignation as prime minister. Driving away a ‘puppet prime minister’ from power is part of a move to establish what they call ‘nationalism’. At the same time, Maoists have been able to project President Yadav as a dictator who went against a popularly elected government over the army chief reinstatement issue. They insist that the president’s act must be reversed if the principle of civilian supremacy is to be honoured.

... contd.