The political turbulence in Koshi Province serves as a cautionary statement for Nepal's federalism
In the initial year of Koshi Province's five-year assembly term, Nepali Congress (NC) lawmaker Kedar Karki has become the third Chief Minister (CM) in a series of government reshuffles.
The chief ministerial musical chair commenced right after the elections and has culminated after the fifth attempt, with Karki securing a vote of confidence in the provincial assembly.
It appears that a semblance of stability has been achieved in the Koshi government.
However, given the history of unethical political practices among our lawmakers, the long-term stability of the government remains still uncertain.
Koshi Province has remained at the epicentre of ethno-political turmoil over the past few months.
Unlike the other six provinces, the first term of the provincial assembly faced challenges in finalising the name for Province 1.
Pro-ethnicity parties and pressure groups opposed naming it Koshi Province, with the Maoist party being a key player in this movement.
However, in the early months of the second provincial term, Province 1 was officially named Koshi, with the Maoist party making a complete U-turn to strongly support this decision.
The social harmony of the already socio-politically wobbly province was disrupted by a proxy religious conflict triggered when a video of a group of people consuming beef surfaced online. Pro-Hindu religious activists, alongside an obsessive crowd, protested against this act on the streets, leading to escalating tensions. Despite the provocative actions of self-proclaimed religious activists from various religious and ethnic backgrounds, a major clash among different religious groups was averted due to the responsible and sensible behaviour of the general public.
These recent events represent just a few examples of the ongoing challenges that have disrupted the already delicate socio-political harmony of Koshi Province.
Additionally, similar religious clashes have begun to permeate into other parts of the country, further escalating the inharmonic environment. It appears that there might be a veiled force supporting these upheavals.
Federalism, as a political concept, is designed to decentralise power and integrate diverse cultural and ethnic groups into the national fabric. However, the ongoing unrest in Koshi Province and various other regions of the country has cast serious doubts on the practical effectiveness and sustainability of the federal system in managing Nepal's intricate socio-political landscape. These incidents underscore the prospective failure of federalism in reconciling regional identities and diverse interests within the federal governance framework.
Koshi Province's political unrest has underscored the ethno-political fragmentation within the federal structure. The proliferation of regional parties and conflicting agendas have complicated governance, leading to a lack of consensus on vital issues like government formation, resource distribution and cultural experiment. As the country aims to navigate its path towards stability, it is essential to discuss federalism representation. The ongoing political turmoil has led to a state of governance paralysis, severely impacting public services, development initiatives and policy implementations. The inability of the political parties, whether the ruling coalition, main opposition or identity-based factions, to establish a stable provincial government and provide consistent leadership exacerbates the situation. This leaves citizens disenchanted with the federal system.
Even when a government with a parliamentary majority is ultimately formed, it appears fragile from the start. The main opposition, which has initially backed the government, might withdraw its support if its concerns are not addressed promptly and properly.
Such a scenario could lead to the government's collapse, paving the way for an inevitable mid-term election.
The political missteps observed in Koshi Province have significantly eroded the reputation and public support for our political parties. While the quasi-coalition formed by CM Karki with the main opposition, Communist Party of Nepal (UML), might be deemed constitutionally correct as per the Supreme Court's interpretation of Article 168(5) of the Constitution of Nepal, it is widely perceived as an immoral and unethical act. A bona fide member of a political party should uphold the decisions made by the party. If a decision is perceived as illogical, the members should voice their protest within the party's internal channels to advocate for change. This is where CM Karki has severely deterred from his political responsibilities.
The NC should have taken decisive actions against the apolitical action of CM Karki and other lawmakers who disregarded the party's decision. In contrast, the party leadership capitulated to the immoral moves of its rebellious members, extending the party's support to the newly-formed government.
However, this outcome was already expected, considering the NC's decision to nominate the Maoist lawmaker for the CM post was not institutional but an arbitrary choice made by NC honcho Deuba and his close coterie.
Hence, the party leadership lacked the moral fortitude to reprimand the rebels.
This is an ironical picture of Nepali Congress, the party who claims itself to be the torchbearer of democracy in Nepal.
The political turbulence in Koshi Province serves as a cautionary statement for Nepal's federalism experiment.
As the country aims to navigate its path towards stability and inclusivity, it is essential for the social and political stakeholders to engage in candid discussions about the strengths and weaknesses of the current federal model. By addressing the underlying challenges and fostering a genuine spirit of unity in diversity, Nepal can ensure that its federal structure becomes a unifying force rather than a source of division and chaos. Otherwise, the future of federalism in Nepal is in shackles.
Dr Joshi is a senior scientist and independent opinion maker based in Germanypushpa.joshi@ gmail.com
