Nepal’s major political parties must urgently agree on a roadmap to negotiate on federalism and write the new constitution, whether by holding elections to a new Constituent Assembly or reviving the previous body, says latest International Crisis Group (ICG).

The two reports released on Monday, Nepal’s Constitution (I): Evolution not Revolution and Nepal’s Constitution (II): The Expanding Po-litical Matrix, ‘describe the interplay of issues, political behaviours and the shifting balance between actors that will determine how Nepal will get a constitution and what it might look like.’ The report has analysed how the new alliances are being formed which has changed political landscape and power balance. It has also tried to look into present political impasse and possible ways to end the deadlock.

“To get the constitution-writing process back on track, mainstream politicians have to manage their parties better, listen to diverse opinions, and clarify their own agendas”, says ICG’s Senior Analyst Anagha Neelakantan. “Otherwise they risk ceding political space to extremists who might appear more action-oriented or sympathetic to a frustrated polity”, she says.

The report notes that, often the parties have ignored voices of their own constituencies on crucial issues like federalism, which has given rise to deep anxieties as well as high expectations. It refers to the incidence of sharp social polarization that appeared in the lead up to CA’s May deadline and warns that although things look calm now, the triggers of communal conflict remain.

“Negotiations on the way ahead and on constitutional issues need to be more transparent and inclusive. There are many groups that want to be heard. Nepal’s parties need to take them into confidence, or risk creating conditions in which violence could become an option”, states the report.

Full report : http://www.crisisgroup.org/