With just a few days remaining for the constitution deadline and a serious political crisis looming large,  Nepal’s political parties have stepped up consultations on the future course of action. This is yet another typical example of an eleventh-hour urgency that the parties are accustomed to. On the agenda now is (a) a further extension of the constituent assembly (b) a national unity government and (c) the conclusion of the peace process by totally separating the Maoist outfit from its armed wing. As of writing this, no agreement was on the cards. The only thing that is looking increasingly certain is the  removal of the prime minister Jhalnath Khanal. What follows next is not clear yet. Who becomes the next PM – Prachanda, Baburam Bhattarai or Sher Bahadur Deuba? The curiosity grows. Just that. No one has a clear idea about a lasting solution to the long-running political crisis which has only deepened due to the extension of the critical transition. The eleventh-hour exercise could, if at all, produce a solution. For now. But not necessarily for future. Hard lessons have gone unlearnt.


Keshab Poudel
Editor