KATHMANDU: CPN Maoist Center Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, aka Prachanda, has criticized attempts to shift Nepal towards a two-party system, calling it a move toward dictatorship.
He made these remarks during a discussion program on ‘Constitutional Implementation: Expectations and Reality,’ jointly organized by the Constitution Watch Group and the Institute for Strategic and Socio-Economic Science Research (ISSR) in Kathmandu on Monday.
Referring to recent efforts by the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML to raise the electoral threshold, Prachanda said, “Some leaders are now talking about a two-party system and increasing the threshold. Whether they are speaking as per the Constitution or not is unclear. But in Nepal, a two-party system is a journey towards dictatorship. A multi-party system is the fundamental characteristic of our Constitution, not a two-party system. Our Constitution also emphasizes proportionality and inclusiveness, which are the achievements of our struggle. We must work toward the universal acceptance of the Constitution.”
Lately, especially CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel has been advocating two parties system.
Also, a seven-point agreement reached by Congress and UML on 17 Ashad, includes a proposal to amend constitution.
At a time when the two big parties are raising the threshold of 3 percent to 10 percent, there is concern that the smaller parties will be eliminated.
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