OFF THE RECORD (Spotlight Weekly)

Vol. 19 :: No. 21
THE NATIONAL NEWSMAGAZINE
December 10 - December 16, 1999

Off The Record

Pleading Opponents

Home Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka has his own problems. After severe criticism within the party, Khadka is now trying to woo his opponents on the ground that he is friendly toward them. Minister Khadka has reportedly ordered the officials of government media to cover more news on his opponents. This is the reason reporters of official media have very hard time to cover the news of the Ministers' opponents within the party. Problem with them is to identify who is the most important among Khadka's opponents.

Bhattarai's Trick

Prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai is known as a man of patch up politics. He forms a committee whenever he sees the problems or rivalry coming to him. Bhttarai's recent plan to accommodate more critics in key positions has brought with some problems. Recently constituted high level committee under the chairmanship of former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to start dialogue with opposition political parties on Maoist issue is also not free from troubles. Although Bhattarai nominated all powerful members of the party including general secretary Sushil Koirala hoping that it will reduce opposition against him, the anger against the new committee is yet to subside. Bhattarai is now looking for another mantra to overcome the crisis.

Missing Punctuality

UML general secretary and leader of the main opposition, Madhav Kumar Nepal, is well known for his punctuality. Whatever the program may be, he always arrives on time. In the international conference on South Asia 2010: Challenges and Opportunities, he was late by few minutes. No body knows whose fault was it but the leader of the main opposition felt unhappy when he arrived just a few minutes after the beginning of the program.

Bastola In Room Decoration

Agriculture Minister Chakra Prasad Banstola is a flamboyant man. Visit his office at Singha Durbar and you will see a range of colors. Red carpets, bright curtain and numerous pictures in his meeting room. Minister Banstola who is now leading a crusade to clean the image of the party seems to be interested to clean his Secretariat as well. This is a good idea and every body may like it.

Adhikary's Whip

For the UML leaders these are anxious weeks. After taking the decision to call special session of the House of Representatives to discuss the issue of price rise, UML is making desperate efforts to unite all opposition parties in their cause. No body knows how UML strategy will work but former finance minister and chief-whip of CPN-UML Bharat Mohan Adhikary seems to be confident that all opposition parties will join them. "If not, I will issue a three line whip since I am the whip of the main opposition party," Adhikary quipped.

Devkota In Trouble

As ironies go, there is nothing to beat this. In 1996, RPP leader Rajeshwor Devkota's much hyped exit from the party was largley due to his differences with Surya Bahadur Thapa. But Thapa tag continues to stick. Even RPP- Chand leader like Lokendra Bahadur Chand, Hem Bahadur Malla and Padma Sunder Lawati see him as Thapa's sympathizer. Who cares that it was he who broke the party supporting Lokendra Bahadur Chand.

Unity Without Mission

Nepalese film stars need nothing for breaking up their professional organizations. Just one year ago, one group of actors decided to split from the Nepal Motion Picture Actors Association charging the other group for not taking serious measures to protect the interest of actors. One of the leaders of splinter group, Harihar Sharma said recently that unification process has already started.

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