OFF THE RECORD (Spotlight Weekly)

"I Was Misunderstood By The PM"

— Khum Bahadur Khadka

Former Minister and MP KHUM BAHADUR KHADKA was sacked from the cabinet by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala following disagreement. Khadka - one of the strong followers of Prime Minister Koirala - has now switched to Bhattarai-Deuba camp. Khadka spoke to SPOTLIGHT after his sacking. Excerpts:

What are the reasons behind your dismissal?

I don't know. It is better to ask this question with Prime Minister Koirala who dismissed me without giving any chance to clear my position.

But, you were one of the key supporters who helped to oust Bhattarai and install Koirala. What has prompted Prime Minister Koirala to dismiss a loyalist like you?

I have not committed any mistake against Prime Minister Koirala nor have I challenged his leadership. I simply asked him to abide by the promises he had made. I had supported him to become Prime Minister on the ground that he had agreed to hand over the leadership of the party to the second generation Congress leaders.

How can you justify your arguments about asking Koirala to quit from one of the two positions he is currently holding -- that of PM and Party President when he was elected to both those positions?

After my dismissal, I will now work to defeat him through elections. I was misunderstood by Prime Minister Koirala.

Do you support Bhattarai-Deuba camp now?

I have to join them to defeat Prime Minister Koirala with whom I had spent about three decades of my political career.

What strategy do you have to protect your career?

I will decide after consultation with my party colleagues who back me.

It is said that your dismissal also helped other so called second generation leaders to retain their position?

If I am honest and popular in the party, no one can stop me from leading the party.

What will be your future strategy?

I will tell my party colleagues about the injustice meted out to me.

Happy News

Nepali politics is full of conspiracies. The conspirators do not consider who is friendly and who is not. When former minister Khum Bahadur Khadka's home plunged into darkness following his dismissal from the cabinet, a group led by his former rival and new ally former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba were celebrating the new development as a happy news for their camp. Khadka, who had emerged as a strong rival against Deuba, is now back to his real position.

Busy Minister

upadhyaya : Lives in Irony Tower

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