The budget session of the Constituent Assembly scheduled to start from 8 June was postponed as the major three parties -- UCPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress and UML – were unable to develop a political consensus on the three-point agreement signed on 28 May midnight. Since the extension of the CA tenure on 29 May at about 1.30 am, the three parties have been engaged in disputes on the implementation of the three-point agreement. The UCPN-M is demanding for the resignation of PM Madhav Kumar Nepal and thus paving the way for a national government, whereas the NC and UML are demanding for the implementation of the package deal, which includes integration of the UCPN-M rebels in the security forces, dissolving of the semi-militant force Youth Communist League (YCL) and the return of the seized private properties to the rightful owners among others as per the comprehensive peace agreement.The three parties are engaged in “what first” dispute. The UCPN-M is not ready for the Parliament affairs to be conducted until its demand for resignation of the PM are met.If the House affairs is disturbed like it was done before and it is being done now, discussions will not be held on the budget for the new fiscal year 2010/11 and at the last hours, by suspending all other provisions, the budget will be endorsed. Ultimately, the UCPN-M has to support the budget as the party’s CA members and also the UCPN-M rebels in the cantonment will not get their salary if the budget does not get passed. The government is thus confidant that just as the UCPN-M supported the government proposal for the extension of the CA tenure recently, the party will also endorse the budget presented by the government. The frightening setback is that the country is facing a serious economic crisis. The balance of payment is on the negative side and it has reached an alarming point. The country has been facing 20 billion trade deficit and this trend in trade deficit is increasing in spite of the introduction of different monitory measures. On the one hand, exports have been declining, on the other hand, imports have increased. Economic experts say that if this trend is not corrected through economic policies in a timely manner, the country may face the fate of a failed state soon. Unfortunately, the political leaders are least bothered about such an economic crisis looming large in front of their faces. They are very much reluctant to deal with the acute crisis on the economic front, rather, they are more concerned on their parties’ interests and more than that the top-brass of the three parties are in a race for becoming the new prime minister after toppling down Madhav Nepal.Reports state that in all the three parties, the race to become the new prime minister has already started. In the UCPN-M, Dr Baburam Bhattarai has prepared himself to be the next prime minister. Many of the central committee leaders are of the view that if the UCPN-M supremo Pushpakamal Dahal is not accepted by the international community, then Bhattarai should be the alternative candidate. One after another measures initiated by the Party’s hardliner group led by Mohan Vaidya, have failed. The indefinite period of general strike and the “decisive movement” for the capturing of state power were taken back by the party, after the party failed to bring down a human sea in Kathmandu and faced domestic as well as international pressures. The extension of the CA tenure and drafting of the constitution from the CA are the agendas of the Bhattarai group in the party. Currently the party is following Bhattarai’s programmes. In this regard, Bhattarai’s claim for becoming the new prime minister is justifiable. However, whether UCPN-M supremo Pushpakamal Dahal will provide an easy road to Bhattarai, this is not sure. Narayankaji Shrestha, another candidate for the post of prime minister from the party, said that there is no alternate to Prachanda for the post. In this way, Dahal may give a green signal to Shrestha by sidelining Bhattarai or accept anyone from the NC or UML as the new prime minister. New Delhi has rejected Dahal for leading the next coalition government. Meanwhile, Western diplomats have felt that Dahal is a “liar” and Bhattarai is a “sober” leader. This is a plus point for Bhattarai.On the other hand, at the cost of toppling the present coalition government, the UCPN-M has offered the prime minister’s position to the NC and UML leaders as well. In the NC, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Ramchandra Poudel have already started a race between themselves after receiving assurances from the UCPN-M. Likewise, UML chairman Jhalanath Khanal, who has also received assurance from the UCPN-M, has started the race for becoming the new prime minister.Be that as it may, the main player behind the curtain is New Delhi and it won’t be surprising even if KP Oli will defeat all the contesters in this fascinating race to be the new PM of Nepal. One thing is sure that the present Madhav Nepal led coalition government is going to step down soon, if not now, then surely after the presentation of the budget. Main issues of the dispute:The UCPN-M wants to form the new government under the party’s leadership to make the environment favourable for the integration of its PLA personnel in the UN cantonment in the security forces. The UCPN-M is reluctant on dissolving the YCL, a para-military like organization. And the return of seized private property is impossible, as the party has either disposed or distributed those lands to the party activists. If it is decided to return such properties, there will be a revolt within the party. On the other hand, the NC and UML are taking the stance on a “package deal” before the formation of the UCPN-M led national government. The question is who will surrender first, and then be finished politically. If the NC and UML surrender to the UCPN-M demand, they will be finished from the political scenario and if the UCPN-M surrenders on the “package deal”, the party will be finished. And the reality is that without bringing the UCPN-M to a consensus, it is impossible to draft a new constitution, but if the UCPN-M is allowed to run the government, the party will capture the state-power and that state of affairs can be prolonged for at least 20 years.Foreign powers active:Before, India was the sole player in Nepal. The US was looking at Nepal through an Indian perspective, China was just observing the political developments in Nepal. But now, the US has started to look at Nepal through its own perspectives and the EU member countries, and also the Scandinavian nations have also tried to get their share in the Nepali politics. Whether it is for the extension of the OHCHR tenure, though limiting its presence around the capital only or in creating a stalemate in Nepalese politics, the foreign powers are involved and the political parties have become “puppets” of such foreign elements. Interestingly, after the machine readable passport deal with India was cancelled, a new tender was invited by the Foreign Ministry. In this bid too, the two neighbours, India and China have put their bid for the tender. Security experts believe that such a sensitive deal should not be signed with any of the neighbouring countries. So far, this is an indication that India is not granted an open field in Nepal’s domestic affairspeoplesreview.com