Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda Monday resigned after President Ram Baran Yadav asked the ‘sacked’ army chief Gen Rukmangad Katawal to stay in office.
Maoist leaders said they would fight the President’s decision in the streets, courts and Parliament. Prachanda has however ruled out a return to the old jungle warfare days.
Both he and his colleagues have blamed India for the crisis but several analysts opined that Prachanda decided to take on the army chief in his bid to humour the Maoist hardliners, whose concern is not political niceties democracy demands but an urge to consolidate political power quickly.
It is a dangerous game of brinkmanship that has prompted calls from the UN, EU, US and India to Nepalese leaders to work in harmony to uphold the peace process. Kathmandu is witnessing intense political activity to cobble up a new coalition but the stark reality is that without the Maoists no coalition will be stable since they are the single largest party in the 601-member parliament. CPN (UML) and Nepali Congress are the other major parties amongst the 26 parties represented in Parliament.
