Nepal, March 15 -- I prefer to use the term prologue to describe the March 5 elections and their results because it heralds a time that evokes dramatic feelings. In a parliamentary democracy, polls cause societal metamorphosis. The results of the interim elections are dramatic if not unprecedented. Both euphoria and dejection should be seen as the effects of the democratic practice. To understand the genius of the times, I always look at the events and individuals. Both the euphoria over the elections and their results were tremendous. However, the voter turnout at the peaceful elections was the 'lowest since the 1991 democratic elections'.

Whatever the figures may be, the elections this time represented a sense of metamorphosis. It also...