As the seven political parties continue the search for finding a compromise formula on the CPN-Maoist’s two key demands – out of the 22 it has presented as the conditions for holding ‘really free and fair’ constituent assembly (CA) elections, the Election Commission (EC) has extended, by five days, the date fixed for the submission of the closed list of candidates (Sept. 30) by the political parties under the proportional representation phase of the mixed electoral system. Similarly, the date for the filing of the nomination papers of the candidates under the first-past-the-post phase has been set back by three days. These came at the request of the government based on SPA agreement. On the other hand, while the political parties should have been deeply immersed, by now, in electioneering, the special session of the parliament is to take place within 15 days of the motion to that effect, registered, on Friday, by 87 Members of Parliament (84 Maoist and 3 other Leftist MPs) with the Office of the Prime Minister, to discuss the Maoist demands.

While accusations against each other are flying between the SPA (now the six-party combine) and the CPN-Maoist, the desire of both sides to break the present impasse should be considered genuine. Strong is the CPN-M’s perception of ‘ongoing conspiracy’ to marginalise it politically, and of the alleged collaboration of SPA partners in it. Likewise, there is considerable SPA distrust of the Maoists. The SPA, particularly the Congress, would want the Maoists to drop its two key demands – pre-CA parliamentary declaration of a republic and switchover to full proportionality.

But, the Maoists appear to stick to these – or at least would want to achieve a semblance of fulfilment of these demands through some mutually acceptable formula.

The Maoists’ doubts have been deepened by a number of incidents, including the recent agreement between the government and the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF). The urgent need now is to pull down this wall of distrust. The Maoists yesterday also sent some positive signals by calling off the three-day nationwide strike they had scheduled for late this week in view of the continuing efforts to resolve the crisis. The Congress’s recent Mahasamiti decision to jump on the republican bandwagon has, at least partly, met one key Maoist demand. A further joint public commitment of the political parties or the passage of a republican resolution by the parliament could pacify the Maoists on this point. Regarding full proportionality, circumstances have made some sort of agreement necessary if the polls are to be held on November 22. As for the Maoists, even if they wanted to reverse the course now, they would not be able

to do so without something to show by way of achievement, or they would pay a heavy political price. If the CA polls are all-important, none of the seven parties should be intransigent over proportionality. None would lose much. Otherwise, they should be ready to share the blame for any further postponement of the polls.