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Kathmandu Friday June 30, 2000 Ahsad 16, 2057.
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No arbitrary
decisions
Dynastic rule with the offspring
or someone from the clan taking over the mantle of leadership of the party and eventually
the government from the patriarch, seems to be a quite common feature in South Asia,
though this practice is in itself a contradictory one. It now appears that the ruling
Nepali Congress (NC) is also leading democracy and the party along the same way. At least
the moves afoot on the NC front indicate that the party leadership is gradually adopting
such a course. The manner in which the recent reshuffle of leadership in the NC's major
district committees was carried out without even consulting prominent leaders of the
Central Working Committee (CWC) clearly shows that the NC is heading towards that
direction and this is being done systematically through what appears as arbitrary
decisions.
There are powerful NC leaders
who do not belong to the Koirala camp. However, the problem is between Prime Minister
Girija Prasad Koirala and former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai. Though Koirala
has had the upper hand with a stronghold over the party organisation, Bhattarai does
command considerable loyalty among members of the parliamentary party, CWC and also
district committees. These could prove a hindrance for Koirala's plans to ensure smooth
succession for one of his family members to the party presidency and probably also prime
ministership. Hence the moves dissolving certain district committees to reduce Bhattarai's
hold over the party in order to ensure the continuation of the Koirala family's virtual
domination in the NC throughout its fifty years of existence.
Since the restoration of
democracy, Girija Prasad Koirala has become Prime Minister four times. Koirala could do so
not due to his ability, or better policies and programmes but due to the fact that his
kith and kin as well as majority of MPs and grassroot NC workers have stood solidly behind
him. Krishna Prasad Bhattarai had to step down from premiership when Koirala's lieutenants
revolted against his leadership. Sher Bahadur Deuba's government collapsed after Koirala
apparently instructed some parliamentarians to leave the country a day before the vote of
no confidence. These developments easily speak volumes about the direction the NC is
heading towards.
NC general secretary Sushil
Koirala, on the direction of party president Girija Prasad Koirala, has dissolved the NC
district committees just before the upcoming tenth convention. This can only be seen as an
unfair and undemocratic exercise initiated by the Prime Minister to suppress the voice of
opposition within the ruling party. Such a step can be counter productive, and instead of
furthering the cause of unity within the party it may adversely affect the forthcoming
tenth convention. This apart, the new design appears to have been undertaken by the
Koirala family to sideline those who oppose dynastic rule in the NC. This is a wrong thing
to do because better sense should have prevailed and Koirala should have tried to bridge
the deep divisions within the party. His opting for moves to eliminate opposition could
further deepen the division and lead to further political instability in the country.
It is true that the NC has
become a major political party after the restoration of democracy. However, it has failed
to provide political stability and economic growth. One of the reasons for this is the
power struggle within the party. The seniormost leaders of a party that shouldered the
burden of the struggle for democracy should not now look at only their personal interests
at the cost of the party, government, democracy and the country.
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