Editorial

Between now and election time — when and if it comes that is — muscles will be flexed both in the streets and in parliament. Indeed the newly begun debate regarding when the polls should take place, or of elections should take place simultaneously to all levels of government or whether or not the laws regarding five years elected terms should be accommodated through constitutional amendments, all these topics of current concern will need the numbers to back individual standpoints. It is these numbers that will be tested and, indeed, are under test. It is no wonder that minister Renu Yadav of the Tarai threatens a repeat of the Gaur incident a decade ago when she is opposed to a black flag at a public rally. When C.K. Raut is active with numbers and threatens public opposition someone must warn him of counter-rallies. The volley that came later with some soothing assurances surely raised shackles all over. The warning was loud and it was heard surely. Sabers are being rattled. Both, impending elections or, its option, another agitation must field workers on the streets. It is time for the warlords. One might well brace oneself for a fresh wave of violence. How this will reflect in parliament is what matters. We are aware of what is constitutional. The elected politician's tenure does not exceed five years as per the constitution. We are told that there are laws that do not allow this. We are also told that either the laws or the constitution must be amended. We are also made aware that the bulk of parties in government would rather, for their own reasons, have elections to all tiers of government at the same time. More than on grounds of cost and convenience, simple politics says our government parties maneuver for time. We are also aware that constitutions can be amended through a simple majority when it comes to lengthening or shortening tenure. The government to form itself less than a year ago amended the constitution to suit recognition of a splinter in the opposition retains or rebuffs power. and, soon after, re-amended the constitution to prevent a similar slide in numbers of another party. As we have been saying, our constitution has been reduced to a tool by way of which government retains or rebuffs power. That this, too, will ultimately have to be backed by the muscle that brought them to power suggests that a demonstration of muscle power is imperative. This applies especially to Kathmandu streets. As yet, it is the anti-MCC crowds and the pro-Monarchy activists that demonstrate there. If the MCC must be passed, there is an effort to rally demonstrable public support. This will have to come with quite some muscle since the vehemence of the current MCC opposition is gradually aggravating. Again, with elections, one way or the other, round the corner, galvanizing street support through the movement of cadre does mean the fielding of well-defended street crowds. If this will be more blatant in the terai where ‘lathi’ wielding muscles are known to be fielded oft and on (remember Gaur), Kathmandu streets often operate on scare value and that is where the warlords come in. After all, they must continue their operations all the way through till after the polls. As if to spruce things up somewhat, the elections authority throws in a spanner provoking questions regarding the constitutionality of its anti-republican, anti-federal, and anti-secular platform of the RPP. The spice that has been added must have a purpose that bears on the system and not just the RPP surely. One cannot but await the taste.