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Monday Interview
- CPN (ML) split evidence of dirty Maoist politics
AUG 15 -
The country is devoid of a new prime minister even after four rounds of voting. As the process lengthens, UCPN (Maoist) has had to face accusations of trying to influence voting through unholy means. The accusations were first made when 11 Madhesi leaders crossed the floor to vote for Maoist Prime Ministerial candidate Pushpa Kamal Dahal in the third round. On the day of the fourth round, CPN (ML) parliamentary party with nine CA members split. The same evening, the four member break-away faction voted for Dahal. Biswas Baral and Pranab Kharel talked to CPN (ML) General Secretary CP Mainali on the role of small parties in the current round of voting, the split in his party and allegations of vote buying.
How do you assess the role of small parties in government formation process?
For the last couple months the small parties have concentrated on formation of a national consensus government. A consensus government is important for progress in constitution making, peace process and for good governance. Some small parties are in favour of Nepali Congress government; some are in favour of a Maoist-led government. But most of the small parties—CPN (United), Rastriya Janamorcha, CPN (ML)—are still neutral. The reason for our neutrality is that we are giving the two prime ministerial time to withdraw and start a new electoral process which will lead to a national consensus government. The small parties believe two-third majority is not the sole basis of national consensus. The basis for such a government should be goodwill of all the parties in the CA.
It is our belief that the Maoists should take the initiative for starting the new process by withdrawing from the prime minister race first. Unless the Maoists commit for the formation of a national consensus government, such a government cannot be formed. This is because many of the conflict related issues are yet to be resolved and no concrete progress has been made on the peace process. Unless they agree to take concrete measures to address these issues, no one is going to trust the Maoists with government leadership. CPN (ML) doesn’t either. Unless the Maoists say that they are ready to participate in a non-Maoist led government, there can be no consensus government.
That is one side of the coin. But as the largest party in the Constituent Assembly, isn’t the Maoist claim on government leadership genuine?
In their latest proposal the Maoists have asked Nepali Congress candidate Ram Chanda Poudel to withdraw as a precondition for the withdrawal of their own candidate. Such proposals are not conducive to formation of national consensus government. Besides, they continues to insist that the government be formed under their leadership. The Maoists say they will bring to use every kind of tactic to get the government leadership. One of the ways is political: that they garner support on the basis of their ideology. The other way is non-political—monetary incentives, luring other CA members with plum posts in future government, making them cross the floor, splitting parties. These are anti-democratic and dirty ways that are implicit in the Maoist decision. We thus don’t believe that the Maoists have come forward sincerely. By insisting that Nepali Congress withdraw from the race first, the Maoists want to show that they are the sole remaining claimants for prime minister. This shows their dirty tactics; not sincerely.
Given the political equation, a national consensus government looks like an unlikely prospect at the moment. Instead, should not the current political vacuum be filled by a majority government if need be?
Our party’s stand is that if all doors to consensus are closed, in order to guarantee progress in peace process and constitution making and to ensure good governance, we can go for a majority government of left-leaning democratic as well as nationalist forces.
How have you taken the split in your party?
First of all, CPN (ML) has not split as a party. It is our parliamentary party which has been divided. Till now, seven members have left the party: four CA members and three other party workers. Let me make it clear that there were no major ideological differences between us, nor were there personal issues. The decision of the four CA members was made overnight in accordance with the Maoist plan to garner a majority. Even if the Maoists could not get the votes of the whole party, they were successful in garnering the votes of some through various monetary incentives and by dangling the bait of plum posts in future government. The split in CPN (ML) parliamentary party is a strong evidence of the dirty politics being practiced in Nepal right now.
Didn’t you personally get such offers?
Before the parliamentary party split, there were some proposals for CPN (ML) from some Maoist agencies. If the whole party voted for the Maoists, the party would get a huge sum to run its day to day operations. Each CA member would also get money to look after their daily needs. I rejected the proposal outright, unlike some parties which were once strong critics of the Maoists, but have overnight turned into their strong supporters. If our party received such a lucrative offer, I cannot believe that other small parties didn’t get similar offers.
Would you shed some more light on what kinds of offers were made?
As I said, if all nine CA members of CPN (ML) agreed to vote for the Maoists, the party would be receiving tens of millions of rupees. Each CA member would also be entitled to kickbacks in millions. We received these proposals from Maoist agencies in full knowledge of Maoist party. If we had accepted the proposals, we could have sat down for talks with the Maoist agencies and top Maoist leaders.
You have been in constant touch with other small parties. Are you aware of similar offers to other small parties?
Among small parties, we often discuss the big offers being made to us. Many Madhesi leaders have told me that they fear this flood of money is going to sweep them away. They say they are struggling to save their moral base and unity. The Maoists are on a drive to shore up votes through various monetary and other kinds of incentives.
Do you have a clear basis to point the finger at the Maoists?
Those who left the CPN (ML) parliamentary party in the morning cast their votes for the Maoists the same evening. Now, the CA members who left us that day say they cannot return back into CPN (ML) fold because if they do so, they will lose their lives. They are in a deadly trap. They say they have to vote for the Maoists in the next round in order to prevent bloodshed.
Don’t you believe that the dirty politicking will only increase the longer the prime ministerial race drags on?
Prachanda will leave no trick in the book to get government leadership. The only way available to the Maoists is non-political: monetary incentives and the bait of plum government posts. But many parties have become aware of the dirty Maoist tactics after the accident with CPN (ML). Thus the Maoists will not be able to garner a majority through dirty means. If they do, imagine, what kind of a government can be formed with the help of parliamentarians bought with money!
This is a deliberate Maoist strategy to destroy the democratic system and replace it with a utopian communist system. They are ready to do anything to give the parliamentary system a bad name. If the Maoists are successful in forming a majority government by buying votes, they will prove that the parliamentarians are cattle who can be brought and sold. If they manage it, it will be a revolutionary step for them.
Posted on: 2010-08-16 11:37
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