People blew the trumpet of change in Nepal quite some time ago, but the wheels of change refuse to budge. Notwithstanding the aspiration for change, political parties have reverted to the age-old political habit of squandering precious time and resources in fighting, blaming and complaining. In the race to outdo each other in pointing out faults, they have ignored the real challenge. It is as if they have forgotten that their task is not to jockey for position but to write a constitution, institutionalise the republic, bring peace and provide security to the people, and share centralised power through a federal structure.

The Nepali Congress, in particular, seems confused about its role and has become constrictive rather than constructive. A constituent assembly is not a regular parliament needing an opposition. In fact, the idea of being in opposition is strange in these circumstances. For a party that held power for so long, it is understandable that NC finds it hard to take the back seat with the steering wheel in another party’s hand. But isn’t that the norm of democracy? When you lose, you take it gracefully and wait for your turn. It is almost as if Nepali Congress leaders feel that the more they protest, the less they will be tainted by the dreaded communists. In fact, failure to work together at this crucial juncture will be the greatest folly.

At a time when true leadership is called for, Koirala, despite his charisma and political capital, has been unable to steer clear of shortcomings within his own party and lead it in the right direction. One cannot help but sympathise with the agony Koirala probably feels after NC’s huge electoral loss under his own watch and stewardship. One would hope that a party with as proud a tradition as NC would be able to accept the defeat and move on to strengthen itself for the next election, while assisting the government in doing all it can to lead the peace process to its logical conclusion.

Criticising Koirala should however not be interpreted to mean an endorsement of the job being done by the current government under the leadership of Pushpa Kamal Dahal. His government has fallen far short of its promises. However, some credit must be given for his candid admission of his inability to implement what was promised.

He has admitted, also, that fighting is easier than running a government. And therein lies a lesson for NC, which is unwittingly proving it to be true. Certainly, it’s always easier to fight and to put up roadblocks and sabotage the path of others than to work with them and iron out differences for the common good.

As usual, NC seems to follow the easier road, so that if the current government fails to deliver NC could vindicate itself by proclaiming proudly, “We were not part of the government, so don’t blame us.” Nepali Congress leaders may think that success of the Maoists will not be to their advantage. But success of the current process will benefit everyone, because it means success of the peace process and a better life for Nepalis, at large.

During this transitional phase everyone needs to come together — not, perhaps, as one unified chorus, but as a “team of rivals,” often disagreeing but still focused on the main goals — writing the new constitution within the stipulated time and set in motion the process of development and economic uplift.