Subas Chandra Nembang: A courageous advocate for consensus in Nepali politics

During his tenure as the Chairperson of the Constituent Assembly, Subas Chandra Nembang frequently emphasised the importance of having a consensus. His reiterated stance that “consensus is necessary and there is no alternative to consensus” at times appeared to some as a sign of the speaker’s cautious approach. However, he always wanted to bring people together and conducted house proceedings with poise and grace.

The outcome of the initial Constituent Assembly election instilled a sense of ascendance for the Maoists. The traditionally dominant Nepali Congress and UML parties found themselves taking the back seat. This sparked significant apprehension among the entrenched bureaucracy often referred to as the ‘permanent government’. Among this group, adept at taking advantage, both minor and major figures from the Maoist faction had already begun to emerge.