DAMBAR KRISHNA SHRESTHA NEXT QUESTION: Poll enumerator Hira Bishural interviewing housewife Tara Adhikari at her house in Bhadrapur last week. More than 4,000 respondents across the country were interviewed.

Fifty five-year-old Madan Ray of Chandragadi, Jhapa is bitter about the way politicians have put their interest above national interest. "Political leaders are engaged in their personal battles, nobody gives a damn about how we live," he says. He thinks the lack of agreement among the leaders has put the CA in crisis. "If only they were sincere, life would be much better for the twenty five million."

Chandika Prasad Bhurtel, 71, says he is not sure the constitution will be endorsed by 28 May, even if the political parties reach a consensus. "If the parties use the 1990 Constitution as a framework and incorporate the achievements of the Jana Andolan, a new constitution is possible within two days," he says. He sees Maoists' reluctance to part with its army as the major hurdle.

Krishna Tuladhar, 30, says five development regions should be developed as federal states since they accommodate all castes and culture in a mixed geography. "We should not make the mistake of creating federal states along ethnic lines," he insists.

Forty one-year-old Lila Prasad Tamang of Urlabari in Morang is afraid the country will fragment. "The country will split into small kingdoms like in the past if the federal structure is decided on the basis of ethnicity," she adds.

Tara Adhikari, 35 of Bhadrapur and Mina Pokharel, 22, of Sunsari are more worried about inflation than the country's political situation. "We had high expectation after the success of Jana Andolan, but things have just gotten worse," says Mina.

Pooja Silwal, 25, of Urlabari says she had pinned her hope on the Maoists and voted for them in the CA election, but she adds: "They have forgotten us and now are behaving like all the others."

Dipak Bohora, 30, of Itahari is also frustrated with the way Maoists have been unable to transform themselves into a democratic party. "If they continue to keep arms the country will become like Afghanistan, and no one will be able to do anything about it, least of all the Maoists."

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