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ABSTRACT
This paper identifies and discusses the role that Nepalese political parties will play in creating a stable governing environment. Currently, it appears that a lack of political party cooperation and obstruction tactics will affect the success of the newly-formed Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly was formed by the recent parliamentary elections in 2008 and has the challenge of managing the transition from a 240-year old monarchial system, writing a Constitution, and serving as an interim parliament. The new Federal Democratic Republic (FDR) emerged after peace talks ending with the participants agreeing to allow the Maoist guerilla party to participate in parliamentary elections and with the decision that King Gyanendra would be the last King of Nepal. This paper examines Nepal's political parties in the aftermath of these sweeping changes and their role in the transition process. The paper analyzes the strategies and tactics of the political parties that reflect longstanding ideological and ethnic conflicts. Party dynamics and geopolitical realities will significantly impact the likelihood that: 1) the political parties can reach a consensus on issues dealing with ethnic politics in Nepal and lingering policy issues related to Indian involvement in Nepali politics, and; 2) whether political parties will work together to maintain peace in the country while addressing the challenges of a stagnant economy, international acceptance of a communistdominated Constituent Assembly, and the security challenges of integrating the Maoist People's Liberation Army into the Nepalese Army.
A Maoist Victory
On the morning of April 12, 2008, the possibility of a Maoist election victory was apparent. Statements by international election observers confirmed victory while parties and commentators adjusted to the unexpected turn of events. Maoist leader, Prachanda, magnanimously accepted victory and assured the business community and international aid donors that the Communist Party of Nepal - Maoists (CPN-M) was anxious and willing to work cooperatively with the four other parties of the newly-formed, a Maoist-led Constituent Assembly (eKantipur, 2008a). However, Prachanda' s reassurances to maintain peace occurred while Maoist-initiated violence continued in many parts of the country. After the election, opposition party leaders of the Nepali Congress (NC) party and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) CPN-UML voiced disapproval of violence and hypocrisy and declared the election a fraud (Shrestha, 2008).
Rhetorical...