CA polls now may lead to conflict: Baidya

CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidya on Sunday reiterated that his party is ready to participate in the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections if the current

political course is altered but warned that the polls, if held under the existing circumstances, might lead to another conflict.

“Even the four parties admit that the 25-point presidential decree was a mistake. It should be scrapped to create an environment conducive for the elections,” said Baidya in a programme organised by the Federal Socialist Party in Kathmandu on Sunday. He stressed that the four parties must not shy away from agreement to continue dialogue with the poll-opposing parties. He said the roundtable conference should open the way for the formation of another government and said there should be some agreement in the contentious issues of the constitution writing process.

Baidya also accused some political forces of hatching a plot to make the negotiation unsuccessful. “Some leaders are claiming that some unforeseen accident would occur if the election doesn’t take place in November 19. There should be an all-party agreement to make the election a success,” Baidya said.

He appealed all the poll-opposing forces, especially the Ashok Rai-led party, to hold the anti-polls protest together.

Addressing the programme, civil society members urged all parties to give up their ego and personal ambitions to make the proposed roundtable conference a success.

They stressed that there is no other way to end the current political deadlock except the election. “Everyone should compromise for a breakthrough. Baidya and all the poll-opposing forces should participate in the elections. Election is the prime need of the time,” said Daman Nath Dhungana, a civil society leader.

Malla K Sundar, another civil society leader, said the political parties should be clear about their agendas before the conference. He said the conference should include non-political groups like the civil society, Dalits, Muslim, Janajatis and others. “The conference should hold an open discussion on issues raised by the past movements and existing agendas associated with inclusion, identity and election,” he said.

Bhoj Raj Pokherl, former chief election commissioner, said the election held by sidelining some parties cannot produce meaningful outcome. He cautioned the political parties that the election should not be a cause of another conflict.

Sundar Mani Dixit said the four parties should also be ready to shift the poll date for few days to bring the dissident groups on board. Political analyst CK Lal cautioned that such talks may even lead to unexpected results at times.

FSPN leaders, including Chairman Ashok Rai and General Secretary Rajendra Shrestha, hinted that the party might collaborate with other dissident parties, including the CPN-Maoist, after completing of its ongoing protest.