With an unprecedented constitutional crisis set to engulf Nepal and its embattled Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal still refusing to quit, President’s Rule and a state of emergency looms ahead for the troubled nation from Friday midnight.
On Tuesday, the Prime Minister, who has been refusing mounting pressure by the Opposition Maoist party as well as the international community to step down and make way for a new, all-party government, held a long meeting with President Ram Baran Yadav, the constitutional head of state who could become the de facto executive from Friday midnight.
Mr Nepal told the President that he would not knuckle under pressure by the Maoists, who say they will bail out the government only if the Prime Minister resigns. The Maoists, a former rebel party, fought a 10-year war to abolish monarchy in Nepal, once the only Hindu kingdom in the world, and to have an election that would allow the country to get its first Constitution drafted by elected representatives.
However, the Constituent Assembly that was elected two years ago stands to be dissolved from Friday midnight since it failed to complete its task of drafting the new Constitution. With the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly, which also serves as the interim Parliament, the government also stands to become dissolved automatically.
The Prime Minister can stave off the crisis by declaring a state of emergency for six months. However, since only a civil war or natural calamity can validate the declaration of emergency, he would aggravate the crisis if he does so. The only way out is by amending the Constitution and extending the deadline. But to do that, the government needs two-third majority in Parliament, a feat that is impossible till the Maoists agree since they are the largest party, holding nearly 40 per cent seats in the 601-member house.