Nepal’s transition as a federal democratic republic is at the
most difficult juncture today. Parties in government are
reluctant to quit just for the sake of long elusive political
consensus, while opposition parties have taken to the streets to
topple the government. Yet another splinter political group CPN-
Maoists warns of ‘people’s revolt’ while the President continues
to issue meaningless deadlines seeking a ‘consensus’ that has
become a mirage in Nepali polity. These are indications of our
march towards a bitter showdown. Nepal is rising from the ashes
of a past conflict, and has miles to go before it projects
itself as a stable and prosperous federal democracy. Of the many
challenges, pervasive corruption, bad governance, deteriorating
rule of law, widespread impunity, and weak state institutions
are key impediments to Nepal’s successful transition to a
federal republic. Series of failed presidential deadlines for
consensus, UCPN (Maoist)’s stubborn clinging to power, slumped
economy, growing unemployme