By all accounts, the year 2065 in the Nepali Calendar has been most eventful in the country's political history. The turn of events throughout the year took all and sundry by surprise.
The historic Constituent Assembly (CA) election results were a complete surprise. The CPN (Maoist) emerged as the dominant force in the 601-member Assembly. 'Mainstream' political parties -- the grand old Nepali Congress and CPN-UML -- were relegated to second and third positions respectively. UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned on moral grounds ending his 14-year-reign.
The elections established Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) and Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) as fourth and fifth largest political entities respectively. Their emergence gives a clear message of the beginning of regional and ethnicity-based politics.
The most historic day of the year, and the country's political history, was May 28, the day the CA turned the country into a Federal Democratic Republic, ending the 240-year-old monarchy. On May 28, former king Gynendra vacated Narayanhity Royal Palace .
Dr. Ram Baran Yadav became the country's first president on July 21, elected by a majority vote of the Assembly
On August 19, the CPN (Maoist) formed a coalition government headed by Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. In August itself, the Koshi breached its embankments rendering about 70,000 people homeless in Eastern Nepal
The year also saw some religion related trouble. The Maoist-led government appointed Nepali priests at Pashupatinath temple on Dec 28, breaking the centuries-old practice of appointing priests from South India. It generated strong passion in Nepal and India
The relationship between the government and the Nepal Army (NA) has soured in recent months and both are awaiting the Supreme Court verdicts on the row involving the recruitment of 3010 personnel and non-extension of the tenure of eight brigadier generals. The Army boycotted some events of the Fifth National Games this month protesting the political decision to give the PLA Club a backdoor entry to the Games, held after 10 years
The peace process seems to be on track, though. But, the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament has not been very productive so far. The good thing perhaps is that the CA is more or less on its mission to write a new constitution by May 2010. Even as political parties remain deeply suspicious of one another's intents, they continue to speak for consensus. Hope the New Year 2066, that begins today, will be a harbinger of a new and prosperous Nepal.
The historic Constituent Assembly (CA) election results were a complete surprise. The CPN (Maoist) emerged as the dominant force in the 601-member Assembly. 'Mainstream' political parties -- the grand old Nepali Congress and CPN-UML -- were relegated to second and third positions respectively. UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned on moral grounds ending his 14-year-reign.
The elections established Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) and Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) as fourth and fifth largest political entities respectively. Their emergence gives a clear message of the beginning of regional and ethnicity-based politics.
The most historic day of the year, and the country's political history, was May 28, the day the CA turned the country into a Federal Democratic Republic, ending the 240-year-old monarchy. On May 28, former king Gynendra vacated Narayanhity Royal Palace .
Dr. Ram Baran Yadav became the country's first president on July 21, elected by a majority vote of the Assembly
On August 19, the CPN (Maoist) formed a coalition government headed by Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. In August itself, the Koshi breached its embankments rendering about 70,000 people homeless in Eastern Nepal
The year also saw some religion related trouble. The Maoist-led government appointed Nepali priests at Pashupatinath temple on Dec 28, breaking the centuries-old practice of appointing priests from South India. It generated strong passion in Nepal and India
The relationship between the government and the Nepal Army (NA) has soured in recent months and both are awaiting the Supreme Court verdicts on the row involving the recruitment of 3010 personnel and non-extension of the tenure of eight brigadier generals. The Army boycotted some events of the Fifth National Games this month protesting the political decision to give the PLA Club a backdoor entry to the Games, held after 10 years
The peace process seems to be on track, though. But, the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament has not been very productive so far. The good thing perhaps is that the CA is more or less on its mission to write a new constitution by May 2010. Even as political parties remain deeply suspicious of one another's intents, they continue to speak for consensus. Hope the New Year 2066, that begins today, will be a harbinger of a new and prosperous Nepal.
