The leaders of the RPP, CPI-UML, and the non-ministerial faction of the Nepali Congress led by Girija Prasad Koirala, are not very convincing when they say that the purpose of the so-called broad national consensus is not to grab power (Democratic dalliance by Puskar Bhusal, #76). They will have to go beyond cosmetics of terminology (multi-party alliance becomes broad democratic alliance becomes broad national consensus) or sophisticated political reasoning. One problem is that their antecedents are not too convincing. If they are serious then perhaps they could start off by saying (promising) that they are not interested in entering government, but that they will concentrate on strengthening government from the outside through responsible but critical support within the NC, and critical but loyal opposition within parliament. A major test of their sincerity would be their support for extension of the emergency for three more months, if the government felt that this was essential, which it most probably is.

Mithun Jung
Naxal