OFF THE RECORD (Spotlight Weekly)

Distant Dwelling

Nepali Congress leaders seem to be tired of receiving party workers at their houses. This seems to be one of the reasons why Congress leaders are physically distancing themselves from party workers. Following in the footsteps of former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Sher Bahadur Deuba has moved his residence from the city center to the edges of the valley. Although Deuba has reaffirmed that he would continue to maintain contact with supporters at his Baneshwar office, many worry that it might be difficult for him to attend his office regularly from his outpost.

Spouse House

There are different ways of projecting a ‘clean’ image of a political leader. All political parties are in various stages of perfecting this art. Former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has been living at a house in Bhainsepati owned by loyalist and former minister Sarat Singh Bhandari. The leader of the opposition, Madhav Kumar Nepal, has been living in a rented house. If a report published in a vernacular weekly is true, former prime minister and Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba has taken refuge in the house of his wife, social activist Dr. Arju Deuba Rana. According to the report, Deuba’s spouse — a grand daughter of Juddha Sumsher Jung Bahadur Rana — has constructed a two-storey house at her own expense.

History’s Man

As noted by the leader of the main opposition party, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has again shown that he is Nepal’s second Jung Bahadur. Although he has not mentioned the name of his predecessor in any public pronouncements, Koirala’s supporters are busy describing the prime minister’s visit to France as historically significant as Jung Bahadur’s visit was a century and a half ago. Krishna Prasad Bhattarai made every effort to claim that feat last year when he was prime minister. In the eyes of history, however, Koirala seemed more suited to claim the mantle of the man who brought the position of prime minister within the confines of his family (no pun intended).

Pressing Matter

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala is worried about people who appear to manage to listen to his one-to-one conversations with party colleague Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and leak the contents to the press. Whenever he returns after a meeting with Bhattarai these days, Koirala is said to direct his aides to scan the following day’s newspapers. From the power of media tycoons to the sources of go-getting reporters, Koirala seems to have been sparing a lot of thought on the state of nation’s news business.

Shaha's Century

Renowned Nepalese film producer, director and actor Nir Shaha recently marked the 100th-day screening of his historical saga Basanti. Shaha has produced a couple of art films in his career and achieved reasonable success. His co-production Caravan was nominated for an Oscar for best foreign film last year. With Basanti, he has brought a critical juncture of Nepalese history into popular focus.