Like the Indian National Congress in India, which ruled the country for an almost uninterrupted four decades, the Nepali Congress too has to learn that it does not have a monopoly on power. (The NC prime minister, Girija Prasad Koirala, reluctantly left office in June after a protracted ostrich-like “head in the sand” stand-off.) And like the INC which now heads the UPA coalition government, the NC too can hope to head a future coalition.

The success of democracy in Nepal depends on the ability of the participants to play by the rules of the game. The successful player will ensure that losses will be followed by wins. There are no permanent enemies or permanent friends in the democratic arena. It is heartening to note that, by fighting within the boundaries of the democratic set-up, the old guard and the new power-holders in Nepal have made the decision to act, at least for the moment, within the rules of the democratic game. Intransigence is not an option any more.

The writer is a fellow at the Centre for Policy Research, Delhi

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