Nepal's first Maoist prime minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, resigned today, less than nine months after coming to power at the head of a multi-party coalition, when the country's president blocked his controversial move to sack the army chief, describing it as "unconstitutional and illegal".
Dahal's position had also become untenable after two key alliance partners deserted the government, reducing the ruling coalition led by the Communist party of Nepal-Maoist to a minority in the constituent assembly.
After Dahal triggered a political crisis by asking the army chief, General Rookmangud Katawal, to step down on Sunday, accusing him of disobeying instructions not to hire new recruits and refusing to accept the supremacy of the civilian government, President Ram Baran Yadav sent a letter to army headquarters late at night, directing the general not to quit.
Nepal's new constitution is still being finalised following last year's abolition of the monarchy, so Dahal insisted in a television address announcing his resignation that "the interim constitution does not give any right to the president to act as a parallel power".
But he was stepping down, the Maoist leader said, "for the protection of democracy and peace".
| And who would know more about democracy and peace than a Maoist? |
Although the Maoists organised angry protests in Kathmandu and threatened to "continue the struggle" until both the president and the army chief were removed, there was a feeling in the capital that the political crisis was unlikely to degenerate into bloodshed.
"We've pulled back from the brink," a political analyst, Kanak Mani Dixit, said. "The credit must go to Dahal. He surprised many by announcing his resignation. He has decided to take the parliamentary high road. We can look forward now to the revival of the peace process."
| Until the Maoists pick up their weapons ... |
|