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By Our Reporter

The government has planned to introduce a two-party system by sidelining the small parties.

The Nepali Congress and UML signed a seven-point agreement earlier to the formation of the present two-party alliance government. One of the seven-point agendas was amending the constitution.

With this purpose, to gain the strength of a two-thirds majority needed to amend the constitution, the coalition government also included small Madhesh-based parties–Janamat Party led by C.K. Raut, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (LSP) led by Mahanta Thakur. Accordingly, during the time of formation of the present coalition government, the Nagarik Unmukti Party and other small parties also supported the present coalition government.

However, currently, C.K. Raut is not happy with PM Oli. He is likely to take back his party’s support to the government.

Actually, whether the present NC-UML coalition government still bags a two-thirds majority or not, is not clear.

The NC and UML coalition government is focused on amending the constitution. They have focused on increasing the existing threshold of a minimum of 3% popular votes in the federal elections and a minimum 1% popular votes in the provincial elections to 5% in the federal elections and 3% in the provincial elections. This is the idea of sidelining small parties, i.e. small parties unable to bag 5 and 3 % popular votes will not be recognized as the national party. If such a provision is introduced, only two or three parties (NC, UML and Maoist Center) will be recognized as the national party.  

Accordingly, the NC and UML are planning to assign the Vice President also the chairman of the National Assembly.

Furthermore, two general secretaries of the Nepali Congress, Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma are advocating for the formation of the government by the party bagging the highest popular votes it means, a party should not necessarily bag a majority in Parliament and the largest party should be allowed to form a government.

The above-mentioned three points are being discussed at present in the process of amendment of the constitution.

WhenNC and UML talked about increasing the threshold, small parties became suspicious of the present coalition government. The Janamat Party and Nagarik Unmukti Party held a meeting either to merge or to develop a front of the two parties.

Accordingly, Hirdyesh Triphati, a Tarai based leader, is holding talks with small Madhesh based parties to develop a front.

Likewise, Pushpakamal Dahal, chair of the Maoist Center, held a meeting with Madhav Nepal and Rajendra Lingden to discuss on the government intention of amending the constitution. Dahal has initiated a move to develop a communist front to counter the NC-UML coalition. The Tarai-based parties have warned to launch agitation if the government moves forward to amend the constitution without consulting them.