Nepal, Nov. 13 -- With under four months to go for the March 5 parliamentary elections, there have been some unfortunate signs. The country's two major political forces-the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML-seem hesitant to take part in elections. The UML appears more rigid against participating in the polls to be conducted by the Sushila Karki government. Yet Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba too seems to be hardening his position against the Karki administration. Earlier, it was only the UML which collected signatures of lawmakers of the dissolved House demanding its reinstatement. Now, the Congress lawmakers are doing the same.

One can understand why the two established parties are hesitant to go for polls. It was just two months ag...