President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has called upon all political parties to be united and cooperate with one another for peace, stability, development and democracy in the country. Launching a book ‘Revisiting Nepali Peace Process’ written by Dr Birendra Kumar Mishra, in Kathmandu the other day, President Yadav said that consensus among the political parties was the only way out to ending the current political deadlock in the country, for which the political must rise above partisan agenda and seriously work for the larger interest of the country and the people.

 It is absolutely true that lasting peace, stability and economic prosperity would not be possible without consensus and cooperation among at least major political forces of the country. As the country is passing through a prolonged transition, all political forces must work together and make their genuine contribution to find an amicable solution to the present political deadlock. Political instability is the main hindrance to institutionalization of democracy and acceleration of social and economic development in the country. It is now high time that political forces and people, irrespective of their political ideologies, must demonstrate a sense of unity not in words but in action to resolve the political problems and achieve the national goal of sustainable peace and development.

Although the political parties and leaders have been talking of national consensus, their actions have created obstruction on the path of building much required consensus. The arrogance and partisan agenda of our political parties have already delayed many works that are associated with the peace process. The constitution writing was the main prerequisite for the conclusion of the peace process, which the parties fail to complete in four years. The inability to give the country a new constitution was attributed to parties’ partisan politics. As a result, the Constituent Assembly, which was formed four years ago through an election, had to see its demise without producing the constitution, which was not only a big waste of country’s resources, time and energy, but also a great betrayal to the people.

Now the fresh election has been announced for another Constituent Assembly. But political parties have locked horns on the issue concerning the election. Some parties have opposed the fresh election and have vowed not to allow the election to be held whereas the ruling parties have expressed their commitment to hold the election under any circumstance. This kind of hostility and conflict between the ruling and opposition parties is certainly disturb the election and will also have negative repercussion in the country’s political spectrum. Thus, the political parties need to shun partisan differences and demonstrate wise and mature behaviour for the larger interest of the country and the people.