OFF THE RECORD (Spotlight Weekly)

Trouble In The Party

When newspapers carried stories on the resignation of CPN-UML leader Pradeep Nepal from the post of party spokesman, leaders in the rival CPN-ML group began distributing sweets. ML leader C.P. Mainali seemed to be particularly happy, as he considers Nepal as one of the key people in the UML who forced him to quit the party. UML workers, meanwhile, were stunned and Nepal himself was reported to be in state of near shock. Nepal had not expected the story to push him toward greater isolation in the party. The sordid saga ended when UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal claimed that he had not received any such letter from Pradeep Nepal. Friends of the Nepal duo have a better theory: the story was a conspiracy hatched by anti-UML forces.

Deuba’s Austerity

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba seems to be on an austerity drive. This may be the reason why journalists invited to an informal meeting had to wait half an hour to be served their first drink. In his first tenure as head of government, Deuba was so generous that he gave almost everything everyone wanted, from ministerial berths to all-expense-paid trips to Bangkok. What prompted him to become austere this time around? Perhaps the more important question is: in the whirlwind of Nepalese politics, how long will the prime minister be able to maintain his frugal ways?

Nepal’s Demand

CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal seems to have developed a liking for counting the number of prime ministers he can ruin. The leader of the opposition waited six months before launching his crusade — which included everything between disrupting the entire winter session of parliament and tearing off of street railings — to oust Girija Prasad Koirala. In Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s case, Nepal did not even wait for six days to ask for his resignation. Nepal has already made it clear that Deuba must be prepared to sacrifice his position in the interest of the country. How many prime ministers does Nepal hope to destroy during the term of this parliament?

Thapa : New alliance

Thapa In Defense

Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) leader Surya Bahadur Thapa seems to have learned to accommodate rivals in the party. Although it was organized under his request, a meeting of the RPP’s district chairmen surprisingly opposed his recent policies. The shrewd politician he is, Thapa immediately turned to his rival Pashupati Sumsher Rana for help. Thapa, who had endorsed a party decision to take action against Rana, finally hailed his role in the party. This is how Thapa has thrived in politics.

Daily Gaijatra

When Royal Nepal Academy announced that it would not organize the Gaijatra Parba this year because of the Royal Palace killings, it did not disappoint many people. With politicians, intellectuals and other luminaries of society putting on a daily show of Gaijatara, the academy’s program will not be sorely missed.

Ranabhat : No more Ryat tyat

Silent Speaker

House of Representatives Speaker Taranath Ranabhat seems to have taken the resignation of Girija Prasad Koirala as a personal loss. Since Koirala stepped down, Ranabhat has shown little inclination to speak. Even during House proceedings, Ranabhat spares little time, letting his deputy Chitra Lekha Yadav take charge. When the speaker turns silent, what does that bode for our politics?