UML in dilemma over CA revival option

KATHMANDU, JUL 01 -

The CPN-UML, which bluntly rejected the fresh Constituent Assembly (CA) elections declared by Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, has yet to take a formal position on revival of the CA.

While a section of Janajati and Madhesi leaders of the party demanded revival of the CA in a nine-point demand submitted to the party leadership, nothing has been mentioned in the minutes of the recent national gatherings of cadres and the Central Committee.

Very few leaders have spoken out in favour of CA revival as an alternative.

Party insiders said the UML is afraid of disgruntled Janajati and Madhesi leaders going against the party line due to differences between the Janajati-Madhesi and party establishment on issues of federalism.

“UML has this fear, but revival of the CA is inevitable,” said Politburo member Prithvi Subba Gurung, who was head of the Janajati caucus in the dissolved CA. 

The party’s recent meetings and national gatherings endorsed multiple identity-based federalism while Janajatis have been pressing the party to opt for single identity-based federalism. Before CA dissolution, 51 Janajati and Madhesi lawmakers of the UML signed in favour of single identity-based federalism, a total of over 400 signatures from the dissolved 601-member CA.

However, the party establishment has said it will support CA revival for a few days in case of a package deal that sorts out all the unresolved issues of the constitution.

“The UML is not in favour of CA revival but we can support other parties to this effect only if they forge consensus on all unresolved issues including those of constitution writing, its promulgation process and power sharing,” said former lawmaker Rabindra Adhikari.

Senior UML leaders, including party Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal, are in a dilemma after leaders like Pradeep Nepal spoke out against federalism while others favoured a referendum to sort out key issues including federalism and state restructuring.

Unlike the UML, 78 of the total 114 Nepali Congress lawmakers have put their ignatures to a campaign demanding CA revival.

Even UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has spoken out publicly in support of the assembly’s revival.

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/07/01/top-story/uml-in-dilemma-over-ca-revival-option/356425/