The election has given you a great responsibility. As leader of the largest party in the new CA, how are you going to ensure that a constitution is written within a year, as your party said in its election manifesto?

We plan to bring out a draft within six months as there are only a few major issues that need to be sorted out. Much of the work that was already done by the old CA can be carried on. Two issues—federalism and form of governance—need to be resolved. Concerning federalism, the people have given their mandate against ethnic federalism. Only the number and naming of the federated states remain. We want to start with a small number as too many states might not be viable. I want to begin with five. Our party’s and the UML’s stance is seven provinces but I would say that we go even lower than that. But we need everyone’s cooperation, particularly the UCPN (Maoist) and the CPN-Maoist. I hope they will play a positive role. I have spoken to Prachandaji and I will also speak to Mohan Baidyaji. Right now, I am working on creating the proper environment for constitution writing; I am not thinking about government formation now.

How do you see the UCPN (Maoist)’s response to the poll results?

I spoke to Prachandaji and told him that his boycott of the poll results was not right. If his party has grievances, formal complaints can be lodged at the Constitutional Court. I reminded him that when the Maoists first came into the mainstream, we gave them seats in the Cabinet and we went to election. We accepted the results of the election even though it wasn’t held in the right environment. So this time, the UCPN (Maoist) must also be involved in constitution writing and the government.

How will the Congress move ahead with government formation?

Like I said, I am not thinking of government formation at the moment. Issues of power sharing will definitely come up. But they should not be played out so nakedly in the media. Power sharing can be discussed inside the parties. This is what responsible parties should do. I have repeatedly told leaders to not go to the media with their bickering and their tug-of-war over posts. NC will not do this. We have received such a huge mandate.

So there are no differences within the Congress about government formation?

There aren’t any personal disputes. I am not going to go around pushing myself for prime minister. There is a system in place and that system will decide. After all, we are a parliamentary party. Whatever the party decides, that will be the decision. There are no differences or disputes. It is the media that is consistently raising these so-called disputes. Why should we fight? It will only make us weaker. I want to make the organisation stronger.

How will you accommodate the parties that have remained outside the election process, particularly the CPN-Maoist?

There are many groups that are currently outside the CA process, including parties that lost the election. All of them have a stake in constitution writing. We will hold interactions with the media too. Our responsibility is to accommodate everyone. It is unfortunate that the Baidya group decided to boycott the election. It would have been much easier if it had taken part. Prachandaji suggested that the CPN-Maoist could be given the 26 CA seats that are set aside for nomination.

I am not going to say this. To me, this feels like belittling them. But their participation inside and outside the CA is still important. They wanted to hold a roundtable; we can still do this. But amending the constitution to ensure their participation, as some have suggested, cannot be done; that is impossible.

You mean the UCPN (Maoist) proposal that the constitution be amended to ensure a consensus government?

Even though the constitution requires a two-thirds majority, it is still written on the basis of consensus. Amending the constitution to remove the majority provision would be disastrous. That is not a reasonable demand. We have had an election and there are parties that have won seats, including the UCPN (Maoist). We can hold discussions both inside and outside the CA.

The Kamal Thapa-led Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal, has demanded that the new CA start its work from scratch. How will you accommodate this demand?

They have the right to present their views and there will be discussions. This is a democracy and he can bring issues of secularism, federalism, republicanism and inclusion to the floor. But all of these values have been endorsed by the people. How can we take them back now?

Another proposal that has come forward recently is the UML demanding a Presidential election before the government is formed.

I told Jhala Nathji that the president will remain in office until the new constitution comes along. Let us continue with the provisions that are already enshrined in the Interim Constitution. Now if there are those who would knowingly disturb the constitution, they will eventually have to answer to the people. And it is not just the people either. The entire international community is watching us. We have held a historic CA election for the second time and are finally on track to write the constitution.

Some see the election results as the “rise of the right”?

No. This is the rise of democracy and the people’s rights. It is the rise of freedom of the press and an independent judiciary. If it is a rise, it is a rise of the democratic cause—democratic ideals, norms and values.

Members of the diplomatic community have met you in recent days. What has their response been?

I found them very happy. They were worried about what was going to happen in Nepal but the election has set the nation back on the right track to development. They have pledged their support to the Nepali political process and to Nepal’s development. They believe that the CA will provide a constitution; there is no alternative. For my part, I assured them that all the political parties will work together and that they do not need to worry.

The last CA was hailed as one of the most inclusive parliaments in the world. The new CA looks to be less inclusive, in terms of the number of women and marginalised communities. How will you ensure that their agendas are not sidelined?

We ensured 33 percent candidacy for women in the election but our society has become so much more competitive. Women need to build their capacity to compete. I believe that women are just as capable as men in taking responsibility for the state. After all, responsibility begins at home. For generations, women have been looking after their home, their husbands and their children. If the nation is in the hands of women, it will not be any different. But the women’s movement and inclusion has only just begun. No one can deprive women, Janajatis, Dalits, Muslims and other marginalised groups of their rights anymore. There can be no going back.

Finally, when and how will government formation and constitution writing begin?

The UCPN (Maoist) is complaining of electoral fraud and a conspiracy. So first, the party needs to do away with this mindset. Then, we can sit down and start discussions. There will be disputes but until now, the precedence has been that the prime minister is from the largest party and will lead the government. If we get into another conflict, we will lose all dignity and Nepal will be seen as an international failure. We will turn into another Afghanistan, where there is India, China and the Western countries, all with their own interests.

We have a geopolitical responsibility to our neighbours too. China and India want stability here but they also want us to be able to take advantage of their growths.

Source: http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2013-12-01/interview-sushil-koirala.html