LETTERS: Is it really needed?

The idea of forming a national consensus government at this juncture sounds interesting and seems to be going on for some time.

However, it does not also seem easy considering the principle of every major party which has its own political interests and priorities.

Now, the parliament, which is the transformation of the second Constituent Assembly, is in place and perfectly functioning in line with the multiparty parliamentary democracy.

In this system, the presence of strong opposition party and its effective role is vital. Once the nine point agreement was signed between UML and CPN-M Centre the Oli-led government had survived.

But, the tacit agreement that is claimed to have been reached between PM Oli and Prachanda has now remained to be the cause of political confrontation triggering another political polarization rather than forging consensus on forming a national unity government.

Prachanda has been going around saying that there was a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ between him and PM Oli about the change of guard of the government after the passage of the new fiscal budget, a claim Oli has denied.

Surprisingly, Prachanda is now in favour of leading a national consensus government rather than a majority one, “Consensus government first priority” (THT, June 7, Page 3).

Is a national government really necessary at this time? Is it possible to form such a government in this situation?

Rai Biren Bangdel, Maharajgunj

Bane of politics

This has reference to “CPN-MC against recalling its ministers” (THT, June 7, Page 1).

As ministers start towing their party lines and start working as independent functionaries of the government doing what is best for them, the post of prime minister will be reduced to a figurehead that, like a decrepit old man, can only watch with despondence his children’s or in this case juniors’ rebellious activities.

This is the fallout of injecting politics in every sphere of life. No party will ever form a majority government in new Nepal and there will be endless differences and squabbles among the coalition ministers.

There will come a time when a secretary from a party will challenge a minister from the rival party or an undersecretary will snub a secretary from other parties. This will go on in every offices, schools and colleges.

The people will eventually suffer as a result of party politics among the public servants and teachers. This is already happening in the government offices.

An apolitical or a politically-appointed section officer faces insubordination from his juniors, and vice versa. I am a witness to this where a young officer had no choice but to lick his wound and agree with his juniors’ decision.

Nepal and Nepalese will get further entangled in the web of politics that will pull us deeper into the deadly quagmire of strife and conflicts.

I do not believe that the real source of democratic power  the people will agree to suffer silently for too long because of politics.

Manohar Shrestha, Kathmandu