RASTRIYA JANASHAKTI PARTY TO BOYCOTT POLLS

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002498 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SA/INS NSC FOR RICHELSOPH E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2015 TAGS: PGOV NP SUBJECT: RASTRIYA JANASHAKTI PARTY TO BOYCOTT POLLS Classified By: CDA Elisabeth I. Millard; Reasons 1.4 (b/d). RASTRIYA JANASHAKTI PARTY TO BOYCOTT ELECTIONS -------------- - ¶1. (U) On November 15, the Rastriya Janashakti Party's (RJP) Central Committee decided to boycott the municipal elections scheduled for February 8, 2006 and the parliamentary polls to be held in April 2007. (Note: The RJP splintered off from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) in March to form a new political party. Former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, founding Chairman of the RPP, is the Chairman of the RJP. The party is based on the principles of multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy. End note.) The Central Committee meeting concluded that the proposed elections announced by the King in October would not be the remedy for Nepal's outstanding problems at a time when the country is "heading toward unimaginable consequences." However, the RJP nevertheless decided to register with the Election Commission to show that the party had faith in the election process. CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT LACKING -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Hari Bahadur Basnet, Central Committee Member of the RJP, told EmbOff that his party was not against the municipal elections, but the government must first create a conducive environment in which all the political parties could participate in the polls. He added that the election was not possible in the present circumstances. Nawaraj Subedi, another RJP Central Committee Member, termed the elections meaningless in the absence of participation by the major political parties. However, both Basnet and Subedi emphasized that the RJP would register with the Election Commission, as they believed in elections. COMMENT -------------- ¶3. (C) With the seven-party alliance and now the RJP boycotting the elections, the RPP is the only remaining sizable nationwide party that may participate in February 8 municipal elections, unless the King creates a conducive environment. This decision by the RJP, widely viewed as a party close to the King, should send a wake-up call to the Palace that it is losing the support of even its traditional backers. MILLARD