.....The aftermath of the election has been marred by the behaviour of powerful losers. In a reversal of the normal grieving process, the
NC and
UML’s initial acceptance has given way to stronger denial. Both they and the leaders of other parties have been happy to see power quickly returned to its usual locus – in the hands of a few men who will take all major decisions based on private horse-trading, without consulting their own parties, let alone the elected CA or the people at large.
For some, the rapid return to politics as usual may be reassuring. Back-room haggling is, after all, better than armed warfare. For a prime minister and party still in office nearly three months after a crushing election defeat, life must seem surprisingly sweet. But parties who pride themselves on blocking the Maoists’ ascendancy should be aware that they are also dishonouring a clear popular mandate. For the
CPN(M), the jury is still out on whether its peaceful revolution strategy will mark an ideological triumph, and it have much to do to win trust through reformed behaviour. But a peaceful revolution is precisely what millions of Nepalis have been demanding for years, if not decades. As the CA elections showed, they are perfectly capable of using non-violent protest and the ballot box to punish those who betray their aspirations.
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