Nepali Congress central working committee member GOVINDA RAJ JOSHI has had a long innings in politics. Although he had won all three previous general elections for parliament, Joshi lost the recently concluded election for CA. Known as a person with command in the party, Joshi spoke to KESHAB POUDEL on various issues regarding ongoing political crisis. Excerpts: How do you visualize the coming political crisis? Present politics is following a pre-planned road map. Unfortunately, Nepali Congress failed to perceive the threat to its future by following that road map. For instance, election was held despite the opposition from majority of party workers that Maoists would not permit us to visit our constituencies. As per the wish of Maoists, the country was declared republic without debating the matter and now the debate is going on regarding the need to hand over power to the Maoists. Do you see any possibility of ending the political deadlock? The objective of present political course is not to find a political solution. Thus, this is a calculated move of Maoists to compel G.P. Koirala to hand over power to them under the present provision of the constitution through which one needs two third majority to oust the government. Do you think the CA will formulate the constitution? All the activities indicate that the constitution making is not going to be the priority of CA. How long, do you think, will the deadlock continue? I cannot predict it because every time such deadlocks have been broken miraculously at the eleventh hour. But based on visible political trends, I can see the deadlock continuing for a long time to come. How do you see the demand by the Maoists about the resignation of PM Koirala? There is a section of people including the Maoists who are criticizing Girija Prasad Koirala for not resigning from his post. Till the fourth amendment, there was a provision in the constitution under which Speaker had the right to accept the resignation of prime minister but after the fourth amendment, there is now a provision that president is authorized to accept the resignation of prime minister. Do you mean prime minister Koirala will continue? As the president is yet to be elected, there is no place for Girija Prasad Koirala to submit his resignation to. On the one hand, all the political leaders agreed to add the constitutional provision that prime minister should submit his resignation to the president, on the other hand, the same people are demanding prime minister’s immediate resignation. The fourth amendment was proposed after intense discussions among three parties, seven parties and 25 parties before the motion was tabled at the CA. Is there any link between Maoist thereat to launch stir to pressure Koirala and this constitutional provision? Yes, the Maoists are advised by some Nepali Congress leaders to launch stir and compel him to compromise with the Maoists. These people will put pressure on Koirala to accept Maoist proposal once the stir takes momentum. Who are those people? I don’t want to point out their names but their names have already been published in newspapers. Some NC leaders, who are in the negotiating team, are working for Maoists. There is a rumor that CPN-Maoist leader Prachanda even proposed Girijababu to appoint three NC leaders as CA members under Maoist quota. If this rumor is true, there is Maoist penetration in NC. The present political situation is the result of this penetration. As a politician with legal background, how do you see the legal process followed in the first meeting of CA? The first meeting of CA was incomplete in accordance with constitution and existing law. According to constitution, the CA composes of members elected under first-past-the-post, members nominated through proportional representation and members nominated by the government. But, the CA was convened and took a major decision without fulfilling the constitutional provision as the government has not nominated members from its side. As a democrat, I can myself ask question whether the constitution was followed or not. Why was it done in such a haste, then? It was an intentional decision. If political parties had built consensus to declare republic, what was the harm in following the rule of law and course of constitution. Why do you think all these things are being done so hurriedly? The whole plan of the first meeting was to create the political deadlock in the country. It is the failure of our party not to have perceived the post election scenario. We did not discuss it. We went to election in a hurried manner with the only agenda of republic. Even after the election, we did not discuss anything in the party. Forget about us, nobody is talking about the need to discuss the matter with all 25 parties as their views are taken for granted. What about the Maoist threat to launch the stir? Maoists are inviting confrontation by giving up politics of consensus. This confrontation is not for making a democratic constitution through CA but to bring out a constitution with tyrannical system. Maoists have already declared that they will write the constitution for People’s Republic of Nepal Don’t you think there is possibility for political consensus? As NC and CPN-UML have already decided to amend the constitution, it is politically impossible to give Maoists a chance to form the government under the present constitutional provisions. If UML, NC and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum do not support, Maoista cannot form the government. I don’t understand why Maoists are threatening the political parties instead of making serious and sincere efforts for consensus. As far as NC is concerned, it has already put seven point conditions to support Maoist-led government. One of the main objectives of CA is to draft the new constitution. But its role is also to produce the new government. However, it is failing on both count till now. If this CA cannot make a new government nor can it draft a new constitution, what is its utility? The political solution lies with Girija Prasad Koirala because he is the only constitutional person. I have not seen any chance of removal of this government because there is no consensus and strength of opposition to oust this government. What about the consensus politics? I don’t see any possibility of politics of consensus now. Politics of consensus is only possible if NC and UML surrender before Maoists. That is not going to happen. Why does not your party allow the Maoists to form the government? How can Maoists form the government when it does not have even simple majority. I agree that their position is the single largest party and they have secured more percentage of votes than ours. But it does not have two third majority as required by present constitution. What will be the solution? I don’t see any political solution now. The country is heading towards a political crisis as Maoists have started to threaten political parties, media and others.Nepal seems to be heading towards tyrannical rule. There is no guarantee of revival of democracy. It is true that Maoists have always got what they wanted. But after the removal of monarchy, that is not going to happen again. We have always opposed alliance with Maoists but nobody listened to us as NC was trapped in miscalculation but now our party leaders cannot ignore us. Don’t you think Maoist backers will make impossible things possible now? Of course, there is a strong backing behind the Maoists because of which they have come to the position where they are today. But there is also a limitation to all these things. It is said that your party leaders don’t take decisions on their own. How do you look at it? Frankly speaking, Nepal is now in the weakest position in its history and the situation is very fluid and fragile. There are rumors and hear-say that leaders of seven parties agree after getting some notes from outsiders. There is a rumor that leaders of seven parties took major decision after receiving outside guidance. This indicates that our leaders are very weak and have lost the public trust. Every time party leaders settle the major hurdles at the last minute, don’t you think they will repeat the same thing again? I am not denying the fact that such miracle can happen. Someone may force our leaders to make a deal. But looking at the conflict within the parties, I don’t see any possibility for consensus.