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Kathmandu Monday July 23, 2001 Shrawan 08, 2058.
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Deuba elected new Prime Minister
By Damakant Jayshi
KATHMANDU, July 22 Sher Bahadur Deuba became the new Prime
Minister of Nepal after emerging victorious in today parliamentary party election of the
governing Nepali Congress in which he secured an unexpected 72 of the total 113 votes.
Sushil Koirala, his rival, could secure only 40 votes. One
vote was invalid. An hour after the results were declared, King Gyanendra appointed the
new parliamentary party leader as the Prime Minister.
Earlier today, Deuba’s name for the election was
proposed by Khum Bahadur Khadka and Chiranjivi Wagle while that of Koirala was done by
Govind Raj Joshi and Ram Baran Yadav. Deuba’s attempt to get former Deputy Prime
Minister Ram Chandra Poudel propose his name failed, said the party sources.
There were loud bursts of cheer and applause as soon as the
Convenor of the election committee announced the results. Deuba’s resounding victory,
getting many more than the 57 required votes, was a surprise for many of the party
leaders, including the leaders of his own camp. A day before the election, Deuba was
assured of at least 62 lawmakers supporting him.
While Deuba was humble in his victory, his rival was gracious
in defeat, saying he took the whole democratic exercise in sportsman spirit.
Speaking to the reporters after the results were declared,
Deuba said his top priority would be to solve the Maoist insurgency plaguing the Kingdom
for the past six years. "I will first talk with all opposition parties, those
represented in the House as well as those outside, and try to evolve a common approach to
the Maoist problem," said the new leader.
The newly-elected leader declined to accept that the Maoists
could go back on their commitment to holding talks with a new leadership. "I have no
reasons to doubt their commitment to the dialogue with the government."
Deuba is on the hot seat as his party is still sharply
divided. Aware perhaps of the bitterness that the elections might have caused Deuba sent a
signal to his rival camp. "Everyone is victorious. I expect cooperation from all,
including Sushil Koirala."
His rival, Koirala, did not disappoint him. "As general
secretary of the party, I will extend the new leader all the cooperation."
Deuba thanked everyone, starting with his erstwhile mentor,
former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala. "Despite leading a majority party
government, Girija babu has sacrificed to help find a way out of the crisis facing the
nation. He deserves all the thanks."
Koirala, who is also the party President, reciprocated.
"I am very happy that a new leader has emerged. I will extend him all the
cooperation. The country will get a new direction now."
Even former PM Krishna Prasad Bhattarai said that he was
extremely glad that Deuba has become the Prime Minister. "The responsibility has come
to the right man."
While the former PM was speaking, Deuba interrupted him on at
least three occasions, repeating "I am his disciple. It is his victory too."
Facing the battery of cameramen, Deuba, flanked on either side by Koirala and Bhattarai,
took their hands and raised them in the air.
Besides, on at least three occasions Deuba held Sushil
Koirala’s hands and wave to the reporters and the cameramen, both during the voting
and after the results were declared. When the reporters asked why he was holding his rival’s
hands, Deuba replied, "It is Congress culture."
The new PM was trying his utmost to keep the two Koiralas in
good humour. Senior Koirala has a tight hold over the party and most of the members in the
all-powerful currently 25-member Central Working Committee are his loyalists. Koirala is
yet to nominate 12 members to the vacant positions in the 37-member body.
When asked to reply how stable the new government would be,
Deuba replied that it would last three years (the remainder of the term). He denied that
there were mini factions in his camp which waged a relentless battle against the outgoing
PM. He said the party was united. What about his own side? He quipped, "There are no
sides; there is only one side."
Deuba also has the difficult task of pleasing everyone who
supported him. The Cabinet which he has to form could be the beginning of acrimony among
many within the party.
Meanwhile, former DPM Poudel has ruled out joining the new
Cabinet. Speaking about Deuba, the former DPM said that the new PM would be able to solve
the problems facing the nation. "Since he was the Convenor of high-level committee on
the Maoists, he will be in an advantageous position to tackle the insurgency." Poudel
added that the onus was now on the Maoists. ‘They have also expressed keenness for
the dialogue once the new leadership takes over. Let us see if they keep their word."
Deuba became Prime Minister first in September in 1995 and
lasted for 18 months before quitting after two of his party MPs did not turn up during his
vote of confidence.
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