The election slogan, ‘royal regime has gone, but government has to remain to fulfill the aspirations of the people’ has given the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) a thumping victory in the elections. During an interview, Baburam Bhattarai, second in command of the CPN (Maoist) said, they were fully committed to build a good coalition with other political forces to strengthen strong economic foundation.
His flexibility was evident when he said the new government would lay emphasis on the development of industrial capitalism, thereby abolishing all remnants of feudalism. He further added they did not intend to give extra boost to socialism.
The picturesque Himalayan nation is populated with 27 million people, and unfortunately, 30% among them live in abject poverty or subsist with less than a dollar a day. The government will have to immediately find solution for severe unemployment and should meet the expectations of the ballot through fast track economic developments. The new Maoist government is expected to go with the vox populi in welcoming foreign direct investments to rebuild the nation which is teetering at the edge of economic collapse. The immediate measures by the government to collaborate with businessmen and industrialists is heralding a new era for a socialistic set up.
Dumping democratic stalwart Girija Prasad Koirala’s Nepali Congress (NC) party and opting for CPN (M) by the people of Nepal shows the country is experimenting with their available options. In retrospection to the past decade, the country has gone through tumultuous and dramatic period to evolve as a true democratic state.
Though the Maoists are inexperienced in governmental administration, the people hope, the educated and idealistic leaders of the Maoists would be able to fix the maladies of the country soon. People in the streets opined, this was a vote for change – a change of ruler, a change in leadership, and a change in social and living standards.