Maoists vs President in Nepal

Nepal government's hopes of holding early polls to elect a new Constituent Assembly has got a setback with President Ram Baran Yadav rejecting two election-related ordinances. Utpal Parashar reports.

Updated on: Aug 18, 2012, 23:09:06 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Nepal government's hopes of holding early polls to elect a new Constituent Assembly has got a setback with President Ram Baran Yadav rejecting two election-related ordinances.

The move has resulted in friction between Yadav and the Maoist-Madhesi coalition led by Baburam Bhattarai and raised doubts over the country getting a new constitution soon.

Last month, the cabinet had forwarded two ordinances to Yadav, which, if approved, would have cleared legal and constitutional hurdles to hold elections for a new CA.

But Yadav refused to endorse the ordinances, citing Election Commission's inability to hold fresh polls on November 22, the date announced by Bhattarai following CA dissolution in May.

A statement issued on Friday by the President's office stated that in view of "changed circumstances" there was "no relevance" of the two ordinances.

Since Yadav had endorsed two ordinances on anti-money laundering in June, the latest move came as a surprise to the government and has evoked sharp reactions from Bhattarai's office.

"The President doesn't have the authority to reject the ordinances recommended by the government," Bhattarai's political advisor Devendra Paudel told The Himalayan Times.

Terming Yadav's act as an attack on democratic norms, he said the government would resend them for the President's endorsement.

For Yadav, it is not the first instance of disagreement with a Maoist-led government. Maoist chairman Prachanda had resigned from the prime minister's post in 2009 after Yadav refused to approve the government's move to remove the sitting Nepal Army chief.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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