OFF THE RECORD (Spotlight Weekly)

New Mantra

Nepalese politicians and intellectuals constantly need new mantras to help them stay in business. When they feel things have become a little dreary, they put on their thinking caps and coin phrases they can harp on for months. Thanks to Nepali Congress president and former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, ënational consensus' has become the new national theme. Nobody knows how long this slogan can be sold to the public, but it looks like it has some staying power. From main opposition leader Madhav Kumar Nepal to former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, national consensus has given everyone something to shed light on.

Pre-emptive Strike

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba may have heaved a sigh of relief following Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala's assertion that he would not do anything to pull down the government. However, many in the prime minister's camp are still worried. After all, they know Koirala is capable of changing his mind with a blink of the eye. Mindful of the underlying threat, Deuba's allies are planning a pre-emptive strike to tame Koirala. The seasoned and shrewd politician he is, Koirala isn't letting in anyone on his next step.

Congress Culture

Being part of a democratic party, Nepali Congress members have exercised the freedom to say anything against anyone, including the party president, and to go against the party's internal policies. After allowing them to go scot-free for long, however, the party now seems to be serious about disciplinary action against errant members. Minister of Information and Communication Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta, Minister of Women and Social Welfare Rajendra Kharel, and Nepali Congress Central Committee member Narahari Acharya have been asked to clarify recent statements they made. How they respond to this challenge to freedom of expression remains to be seen. Nevertheless, the trio probably began by holding joint strategy sessions.

Chand's Oversight

RPP leader Lokendra Bahadur Chand is also a poet and humorist. No wonder, his speeches are often laced with poetic and political content. However, the former prime minister tends to get carried away at times. At a recent meeting, Chand challenged the government to take action against politicians who have accumulated money beginning from the Panchayat days. However, he seemed to have overlooked the fact that he himself would be a leading candidate, having served as head of government under both systems. Moreover, a lot of people recall that he finished his four-story mini-durbar in Lohakenthali during his six-month stint as prime minister after the restoration of multiparty democracy. It would be unfair to ask a poet not to get sentimental in his speeches. But Chand could do himself some good by weighing the implications of his words.

Ministers' Predicament

With so many ministers fluttering flags on government vehicles, people have a hard time recognizing them. For police and security personnel who have to check more than 200 people going in and out of the Singha Durbar secretariat, the challenge is particularly daunting. No less exacting is the pressure on the ministers themselves. However, ministers who have offices outside Singha Durbar do not have to undergo such rigorous scrutiny. That's probably why so many of Deuba's 41 ministers have started realizing the need to move their offices outside the secretariat premises.

Twist Of Fate

Two men who played opposite roles during the Panchayat days are today working closely in the same ministry. Minister for General Administration Khem Raj Bhatta Mayalu was declared a terrorist by the Panchayat government. His assistant minister, Dil Bahadur Lama, was the inspector-general of police who issued the order to arrest Mayalu. Today they see each other as close partners on a mission to modernize the country's administrative machinery. Life can take all kinds of turns.