Dear Editor,

Election results in Nepal have defied prediction. Poll-sters and political analysts predicted that the left of centre Nepal Congress would win the most seats followed by the Marxists (following the Soviet model) and Maoists (named after Chair-man Mao of China) parties. As it turned out the Maoists appeared to be in a commanding position to lead the government becoming the first Maoist party to democratically win an election and form a government.

The election was observed by President Carter and hundreds of international observers. They have certified the elections as acceptable and the contesting political parties have accepted the outcome.
The Maoist Party has won over a hundred of the 240 first past the post seats and 30% of the proportional votes for the other 400 seats. The parties are in discussion to form a government.

Prior to the election, the biggest worry was whether the Maoists would accept the outcome of the election since it was felt the party would run a distant third. Now the Maoists have to decide who will be their Prime Minister. This is good for democratic politics as it shows that violent guerrillas can enter into mainstream politics and win elections. One does not have to seek power at the barrel of a gun.

It will take weeks for a government to be formed because the Maoists may be short of a majority and would need the assistance of the Marxist and or Congress Parties to govern. But the Maoists don’t like the Marxists and the Congress is not showing a very keen interest in joining the Maoists. But in the end, pragmatic politics will force the parties to work together and at any rate an agreement made by the parties bound them to consensus decision making and a coalition government that shares the cabinet posts in a power sharing arrangement.

It appears certain that the new government will abolish the 240 year monarchy ending Nepal being the world’s only Hindu state and kingdom. That was the theme under which the Maoists campaigned. The pro-monarchy parties have been wiped out and will not be able to save the king.

Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram