30 August-5 September #671

Work in progress

WORK IN PROGRESS: We could ram through an election in November, but the question remains: can a new Constituent Assembly not represented by all major political forces ensure peace and a new constitution? With the same leadership and behaviour witnessed in the first CA, a majority of Nepalis are doubtful that the new assembly will be any different. For former Chief Election Commissioner Bhojraj Pokharel, the lesson from the 2008 poll is that political preparedness and necessary political will are more important than technical and logistical issues. Just like this bulldozer widening the road outside the BICC, the peace process is still a work in progress.