Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Nepal on December 26, 2022 in Kathmandu. Photo Credit: PTI
Teathat election Verdict in Nepal’s recent elections was reliable. This reflects a clear emergence of voter preference for more responsive governance and impatience with traditional political power play that ignores the aspirations of the youth and the underprivileged. It also confirmed the successful ‘taking root’ of democracy in the Himalayan country, whose transformation from a Hindu monarchy to a secular republic took place after great struggle, sacrifice and ideological adjustments across the political spectrum.
meaning of election results
Some of the major achievements, though with shortcomings and controversies, include the peaceful mainstreaming of the Maoist movement into a democratic framework, the integration of guerrillas into the Nepal Army, the transfer of power, the adoption of a constitution, and the emergence of a constitution. federal structure.
However, on the downside, the hung parliament that makes up the end result is a sure recipe for instability and frequent changes of government in the years to come. This could easily translate into an inability to deal with the many pressing challenges facing the country and the continuing uncertainty in the graph of India-Nepal cooperation.
There were widespread expectations that Sher Bahadur Deuba, the leader of the Nepali Congress, who was in the coalition Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda)The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) and three other parties will form the new government as the coalition commanded the largest number of seats in the new parliament. however, it was Prachanda takes oath as Prime Minister As he decided to revive his earlier alliance with former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, who heads the CPN (Unified Marxist-Leninist). This unexpected development will undoubtedly be a source of satisfaction for China, which has earlier apparently but unsuccessfully attempted to re-align the Left in the political spectrum (to promote its own interests and to the detriment of India’s). .
India and China question
However, India can take this development in its stride. It is used in Nepal due to political instability, frequent changes of government, and even those led by reputed anti-India or pro-China leaders. Over the years its focus has been on non-partisan support for inclusive economic development, interdependence, communication links, people-to-people contacts, and building on the compelling logic of economic complementarity, especially in hydropower where Nepal has vast but But there is unexplored potential. , The extent of its ties of history, geography, culture, religion and economy with Nepal facilitate the management of its security concerns within tolerable limits.
Moreover, leaders like Prachanda and Mr. Oli are seasoned veterans capable of making shrewd decisions in their long-term political interests, even as they talk of the new government adopting a policy of “equal-proximity” with India and China. The truth is, as is evident even in strong democracies (Israel being the most recent example), ideological stability is becoming less important in politicians’ quest for power. Therefore, in the case of Nepal too, labels like ‘pro-India’ or ‘anti-India’ need to be taken with an increasing amount of salt. It should also not be forgotten that hyper-nationalist leaders like Mr. Oli and Prachanda have on occasion, with courage and conviction questioned the foolish antagonism towards India. For example, Mr. Oli aggressively questioned his own party’s vehement demand to oppose the ratification of the Mahakali Treaty a few years ago.
Public opinion in Nepal is now wary of the reality of Chinese intentions, the risk of falling into a debt trap, and the limits of Chinese capabilities vis-à-vis India. China’s image itself has taken a huge hit due to the current COVID-19 tsunami.
However, India cannot be complacent. Traditional bottlenecks such as the Indo-Nepal Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1950 and the boundary issue need not be continued, but should be resolved in an open and transparent manner. There is no reason why the worldview of the East India Company or British India should be the determining guide in shaping perceptions or policies when people on both sides of an open border look forward to a better quality of life. Nepal is a changing country. India is a player on the global stage. The world itself is on the verge of great changes, with new challenges, changing priorities and limitless possibilities.
time to rethink
The COVID-19 crisis and its long-term fallout are the biggest shock to the global socioeconomic architecture since the Great Depression of the early 1930s. In 2020-21 alone, more than 100 million people fell below the poverty line. The breadth and depth of relations between India and Nepal are uniquely positioned to jointly reconsider economic governance with a view to enhancing human welfare. There are great challenges but also great opportunities to expand and diversify cooperation for mutual benefit. Now is the time to take a fresh look at many issues including economic reforms; bilateral, sub-regional and regional cooperation; restructuring of supply chains; human as well as traditional security; energy cooperation; development; people-to-people contact; and the untapped potential of technology to accelerate inclusive growth, and soft power to maximize mutual benefit.
Perhaps a missing factor in bilateral relations is mutual empathy: the willingness of the political class, bureaucracy, and civil society on both sides of the border to understand what the world looks like from the other side. Empathy as a factor in lasting friendly relations is needed more than ever.
A diverse but balanced and constructive approach to India-Nepal relations will contribute to a clearer understanding of the past, better awareness of current trends and a new roadmap for a concrete upgradation of relations in the years to come.
New and innovative approaches are needed on both sides. All Nepalese yearn for a sense of equality and Indian respect for their identity. With a Prime Minister who has visited Nepal more times than any of his predecessors, a Foreign Minister who has won great respect for his clear and consistent approach to foreign policy priorities, and a Foreign Secretary who has recently As far as relations with Nepal are concerned, there is a range of policy drivers with broad joint understanding and sensibility. This should stand both countries and the region in good stead in the challenging times ahead.
KV Rajan is the former Ambassador of India to Nepal; Atul K. Thakur is a policy professional, columnist and author with a special focus on South Asia