The three-party parley at Godavari on Friday seems to have ironed out some of the major differences over the eight-point agreement seen especially in the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, the ensuing suspicion in the Maoist camp about the seven-party alliance (SPA)’s bona fides about it, and, above all, the delay in its implementation. The parties reached an understanding on forming an ‘interim legislature’ through the interim constitution to replace the restored House of Representatives. The seven-hour ‘informal’ meeting of representatives belonging to the CPN-Maoist, the NC and the CPN-UML came in addition to intensive and wide consultations by Maoist leaders during their three-week stay in Kathmandu. Another chief outcome is the full shape the committee for drafting the interim statute has acquired with the induction of nine members. It is to be drafted within two weeks.

The parties have scheduled a summit meeting late this week to discuss the modalities of the new understanding. Indeed, the 8-point pact provides for an interim statute, interim government, the announcement of a date for the constituent assembly (CA) polls, and the dissolution of the HoR along with the creation of an alternative to it. Soon after the signing of the 8-point accord one month ago, particularly after American ambassador James Moriarty’s strong remarks that the Maoists must not be accepted into an interim government without their laying down arms first, voices of protest had begun to be expressed in the Congress and the CPN-UML, the two biggest SPA partners, as well as by a number of their MPs. Those who spoke against the House dissolution appeared to be in favour of its continuation until the CA polls.

However, in Friday’s positive development, the leaders of the three principal parties have shown a willingness to carry out the 8-point accord. But, all should take care that the modalities for the interim legislature are worked out extremely carefully, because it should adequately reflect the new political equation and be functional at the same time. It need not be as large as the present House. It has to be incorporated into the interim statute to avoid any future troubles or dissensions. This is very important as there will be a pretty long time-lag between now and the formation of a new government under the CA-created constitution. Besides, the representation in the interim legislative arrangement should be composed mainly of the political parties; it cannot afford to induct all new groups based on ethnicity, gender, castes and sub-castes as such an effort will create unnecessary hassles — and can never become adequate. What is far more important is a problem-solving attitude. The political parties, and others, too, will be well advised to take into account what they have gained and what they would lose if they acted not in accordance with the people’s wishes and continued squabbling over the loaves and fishes of office.