The SPA government and the constituent parties appear determined to hold the election on April 10, conscious of the danger of yet another postponement to the peace process, to the political transition, and to the country. This is encouraging news for the public who has been somewhat disenchanted with election deferral on past two occasions. The SPA has also taken the correct line regarding the various disgruntled groups — that the government is ready to discuss any grievances of any group, in the hills or in the Tarai, and address those of their demands that are just; but at the same time it has, rightly, ruled out any possibility of compromise on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation. The SPA decision to send — by holding seven joint mass meetings in seven towns — a combined message of the seven parties’ commitment to the present election schedule is beginning to have positive impact on the public. The SPA has already organised most of the joint mass meetings, starting with the capital.

In the Tarai, however, some outfits of dubious intent tried to foil the SPA rallies not only by organising bandhs or by detonating bombs. Though these attempts did not prove effective against the SPA programmes, the message these have given is that certain forces are at work to sabotage the election to the Constituent Assembly and halt, or even reverse, the march of the country towards a new political order based on democracy, social and economic justice and devolution of power to the lowest levels of political, administrative and development units. Some of the agitating groups in the Tarai have said that they will sit for talks only after their demands have been met or after the government has made its stand clear on their demands. The various, mostly armed, groups there have wide-ranging demands. The government had signed a deal with the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum some time before the last postponed election date. The government has already carried out the agreement to some extent, but the rest of it should also be implemented.

However, it seems impossible to meet all the demands of all the groups there, even after the election. It is always better to find a negotiated settlement with any agitating group anywhere, rather than use force, as regards its legitimate demands. After all, a main duty of the state is to redress injustice. But any government worth its salt will also refuse to be cowed into submission by the violence or threats of violence that may be employed by anybody in an effort to have their way. Now that the election countdown has begun and polling day is barely two and a half months away, the agitations will appear to most people as mainly aimed against the CA polls. Meeting this and other challenges that may arise against the CA election calls for a firmness of the SPA resolve. The government and the Nepali parties should resolve Nepal’s internal problems themselves, whether these relate to the Janajatis, the Dalits or the Madhesis. There is no need for external mediation or pontification in this regard. As the CA election represents a major mandate of Jana Andolan II, anything that comes in its way needs to be pushed aside.