Shun Unhealthy Politics

Nepal began to exercise the federal polity formally following the three-tier elections in 2017. It was the first polls held under the new constitution that converted the Himalayan nation into federal, secular and republican state in 2015. Adoption of federalism was a milestone in restructuring the state’s political, economic and administrative system. The division of the administration into three layers – federal, provincial and local – aims to decentralise powers and resources in a judicious manner so that the nation has the balanced development and the citizens have fair access to facilities, opportunities and natural resources. Federalism primarily seeks to address the structural injustice meted out to those sections of people and regions devoid of the equal rights and development. However, sometime constitutional norms and values are underestimated as the political actors manipulate laws to suit their narrow interest. 

Instability, horse trading and blame game start to rule the roost if the politicians indulge in a power game. This is what happened in Koshi Province in east Nepal. The province saw three governments in nine months after the provincial elections on November 20, 2022. On August 21, there was a high voltage drama after Koshi Provincial Assembly Deputy Speaker Srijana Danuwar, who was elected from the CPN-UML, called the meeting where newly appointed Chief Minister Uddhav Thapa was scheduled to secure the vote of confidence. But the Assembly saw many twists and turns much to the chagrin of the Koshi people. Deputy Speaker Danuwar headed to Kathmandu all of sudden on the day of the meeting, putting provincial politics in chaos. Four senior-most members were assigned to chair the meeting in the absence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. 

Gayananda Mandal of Nepali Congress, the eldest member of Assembly, was supposed to chair the meeting but in its preemptive move, the provincial government appointed him a state minister so that he would not have to preside the meeting and the ruling coalition would not have to lose one vote that is crucial for Thapa’s victory.  Then the UML played another game, making most of its eldest members absent during the meeting. As planned, Deputy Speaker Danuwar asked senior-most member Israil Mansuri of NC to chair the meeting.  The ruling coalition had only 47 members in the 93-member Assembly. Thapa must get all votes to win the confidence vote. Mansuri could cast vote only when there is a tie. But he voted for Thapa only to be invalidated by an interim order of the Supreme Court on 24. It was the repetition of same incident that happened last month when the SC declared Thapa’s appointment illegal for acquiring the support of the then Speaker Baburam Gautam in the formation of his government.

As the parties are dead-set to act as per their own plan, the province is stuck in a dangerous impasse, which has threatened to deprive it of new fiscal year’s budget. This has created confusion and resentment among the people. Both ruling and opposition parties have been blamed for this situation. When the spirit of federalism is violated, the provincial dispensation confronts unintended challenges. This is not the weakness of federalism per se but those who use people’s mandate to gain shot-term political scores. Adherence to constitutional norms, values and principle is essential to institutionalise federal system and ensure effective delivery of goods and services. There must be fair play and fair deal if newly established system is to be consolidated and people’s aspirations met.