First General Elections in Nepal—I Recent Political Trends Rama Devi Pant

First General Elections in Nepal—I Recent Political Trends Rama Devi Pant "THAT despite its prolonged tions to enable them to continue general elections in the country. periods of frustration (between in office and to exercise the little Such announcements by a party in 1951 and 1958) Nepal should embark power they have. government also have not been un upon the first general elections in Promised Eight Years Ago common. When the Acharya cabi net was expanded (February 5, the country's history (on February The subject of elections has re 1956), the main reasons put forward 18, 1959), based on the twin prin ceived a great deal of attention both for this expansion were: (a) to cope ciples of adult franchise and secret in government communiques and with increasing governmental acti ballot, is a heartening sign*. Rifts political party propaganda during vities owing to growing develop both within and outside the political the last eight years, though, of mental activities, and (b for mak parties and frequent cabinet re- course, the emphasis on it has ing suitable preparations for the shuffles have led to chronic instabi shifted not infrequently. King Tri- forthcoming general elections. Simi lity in Nepal politics. Nor is the bhuvans first Royal proclamation larly, Dr K I Singh also, during his economic climate any better. In installing the first interim cabinet ministry of 110 days last year, con flation has raised its head. The (Rana-Congress) at one place dec stantly referred to the holding of Five Year Plan, almost half way lared: "And whereas it is now our general elections. Finally, the pre through, has not got along smooth desire and our resolve that our sent Council of Ministers (set up ly, and most projects envisaged in it people should henceforth be govern on May 14, 1958, after the end of have remained mere declarations of ed according to the provisions of the six-month old direct rule of the intentions. The negligible success a democratic constitution framed by King) was scheduled to continue till of the democratic experiments tried a Constituent Assembly '.selected by the forthcoming general elections. so far by King Mahendra could them" (February 18, 1951). hardly provide the incentive for the Constituent Assembly To date the following ministries improvement of the economic and or Parliament? social standards of the 80 lakhs of have made some reference, as and What is the purpose of the elec people who inhabit the intractable when they found it necessary, to tions? This controversial question hilly parts and extensive tarai re the question of elections. It will has been agitating the public mind gions of the country. A general be recalled that after the termina all along. In his first Royal pro. election was the obvious answer. tion of the Matrika Cabinet on April 14, 1956 and during the first direct clamation, quoted above, King Tri- How far the general elections will rule of King Mahendra with the bhuvan had referred to the elections go in laying the foundation of help of advisors, four prominent for setting up the Constituent As democracy in Nepal is a question political parties (Nepali Congress, sembly first, but after many vicis which it is too early to discuss. But Nepali National Congress, Praja situdes (described below) it has now no impartial student of Nepal poli Parishad and Rashtriya Praja been finally decided that the elec tics can ignore two obstacles, tradi Party), had boycotted the Conven tions will be held for a parliament tion and inexperience, which have tion called by the King on May 13. composed of two houses. to be overcome to make democracy In a joint declaration they had de Controversy on this question work. Much depends on King manded the termination of the direct reached almost a boiling point to Mahendra who is dedicated to usher rule of the Crown because it was wards the end of 1956, when the in constitutional monarchy, but "antidemocratic", and had urged on ruling Praja Parishad Government whose effective power, as past events the King to take immediate steps to was called upon to decide the issue", have demonstrated, has been in set up a democratic form of Govern thereby putting an end to earlier creasing beyond all measure, mainly ment "to enthuse the people for attempts at putting off discussion because of the uncertain position of honest and impartial election." on this touchy problem till the last the party leaders, some of whom Though practice shows that such moment. This was done perhaps even now wish to postpone the elec- joint declarations, and even joint to elicit the most representative pub fronts!, have never been based on lic opinion in the interim period. At The first general elections being sound grounds of unity and planned that time the Nepali Congress de hardly two weeks away (at this policy, they are indicative of the cided that the elections should be writing) political parties are natu importance attached to holding for a sovereign Constituent Assem rally becoming active. Recent bly. The then ruling party leaders, political trends in the context of † See my article 'A Turn in Nepal on the other hand, held that the the approaching elections and re Polities' in 'The Economic Weekly', elections should be for a Parliament, lated issues agitating the public October 10, 1953 (pp 1117-1118) in for, they argued, there could not be mind are discussed here. This will which I held that the formation of two sovereigns in the State—the be followed up in a second article the Nepali Democratic League (on King as well the Constituent Assem by an account of the elections, September 21, 1953) might have bly. The Nepali Congress and its how they were organised, how a good effect on the country's supporters maintained that, having people reacted, what was the cha- future politics. However, its pre a sovereign Constituent Assembly in racter of voting and what was the mature death after only a month addition to the King was not neces immediate, over-ail effect, dashed this hope. sarily tantamount to dual sovereign 285 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY February 21 1959 ty, for in their view, the sovereign names should be cancelled. Leaders number those with clear-cut party could delegate his legislative powers like T P Acharya, the former Prime labels. Secondly, of late enthusiasm only to such an elected body. The Minister, and Ranganath, the form of some of the political parties for Congress, therefore, contended that er Minister of State, have been elections seems to be waning be- the King must formally grant to the supporting this view, though of late cause of the uncertainty or lack of nation a constitution framed by the such views are waning gradually. knowledge about the constitution elected representatives of the peo One House or Two? which the King intends to promul ple, and that representative assembly gate very shortly. would, at the same time, function Certain social and political parties (composed largely of splinter However, in spite of all such -ad- as parliament for the day-today verse forces, while proroguing the administration of the country. groups), most of whom are not contesting, had submitted a memo Assembly (which, probably, might No sooner had the Praja Pari- randum to King Mahendra, on De not be called again at all) on Dec shad party promised an all-party cember 20, urging for postponement ember 21, the King repeated that convention to thrash out this issue of general elections until all neces elections would be held on the date than King Mahendra dissolved the sary preparations were complete, fixed in the proclamation of Nov Acharya Ministry on the charge and the electorate became quite con ember 9. In view of doubts and that it was not capable of holding scious of their rights etc. However, whispering campaigns described the elections. That was July their undemocratic move has neither above, reiteration of the target date 1957. Followed the agitation of the been seriously attended to by His was necessary. It has to a great Democratic Front (of the Nepali Majesty's Government, nor did even extent lessened the prevailing scep Congress and Nepali National Con the public in the capital take seri ticism in Kathmandu, which, of gress). The King, after another ous notice of it. This is well prov course, governs in so many ways period of direct rule, at last, success ed by one incident. On December the mass psychology in the other fully negotiated with the Front to 21, when about 100 persons belong parts of the country. have elections for a parliament. A ing to this group demonstrated on Parties and Personalities new Election Commission was form- one of the main thoroughfares of ed. On May 15, 1958, a new Coun the capital, they were assaulted and It is said that there are more than cil of Ministers, without a Prime beaten by their opponents (majority 100 parties in Nepal. Although it Minister, was set up to conti of the people). is true that following the new set nue till the general elections. On up after February 1951 with King November 9, 1958, King Mahendra, Last but not the least, there is Tribhuvan as the constitutional in a Royal Proclamation broadcast the third Advisory Assembly (in head—and in the absence of any by Radio Nepal, called upon the augurated on November 26) which, democratic tradition- political par- people of Nepal to elect 107 members surprisingly enough, in spite of the ties have been cropping up like (two more members representing King's desire, as expressed in his mushrooms, the total number is not the remote Jumla and Humla, in inaugural address from the throne, quite that large.

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