OFF THE RECORD (Spotlight Weekly)

Gautam : Mahakali fixation

Protocol Pains

Comrade Bamdev Gautam wants everybody to know that he is the general secretary of the CPN-ML. In the communist hierarchy, that means supreme leader of the party. That's why he wants all and sundry to understand he can't be expected to deal with lower rank officials from other parties, including the CPN-UML. When UML leaders decided to name a lower rank committee to advance the reunification talks with the ML, which had mandated Gautam from its side, discussions broke down. Regardless of whether they fight or compromise, Gautam is firm about adhering to matters of protocol.

Khadka : Jet- setting

Home Sickness

Whenever there is a political crisis in the country, Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka becomes indisposed and leaves for medical treatment abroad. At a time when Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat is at wit's end trying to tap new sources of revenue to fund mounting defense expenditures, Khadka doesn't seem to have problems with reaching deep into the state coffers for expensive hospital fees in Bangkok. In the first cabinet of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Khadka had sent five ministers to Bangkok for "medical treatment" as part of the compulsions of coalition politics. Along as there is public money to squander, who cares about hospital costs?

Strategic Planning

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's followers are closely monitoring the activities of his predecessor, Girija Prasad Koirala, ever since he began a nationwide campaign against the government. Deuba is keen on closely monitoring Koirala's strategy and some ministers are accompanying Koirala on his whirlwind tours. Deuba, whose first government collapsed when two MPs of his own party were absent during a crucial vote of confidence, obviously isn't taking chances this time.

Joshi : Politiking

Survival Tactics

Former minister Govinda Raj Joshi, a die-hard follower of Girijababu, is actively involved in building pressure against the Deuba government. Joshi is said to be busy knocking the doors of state ministers without independent portfolios and disgruntled assistant ministers, encouraging them to revolt against Deuba. Deuba followers, on the other hand, are finding out whether there are extra rooms in the Singha Durbar secretariat to house ministers without portfolio. Deuba may have run out of ministries, but he knows he has to accommodate all those aspirants to secure his own position.

Poudel's Preference

Deputy prime minister Ram Chandra Poudel is defending Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at a time when the government is taking unpopular decisions. Strange? Not so, perhaps. Poudel knows Deuba's fall would strength his archrival Govinda Raj Joshi. In the race for political survival, Poudel has recognized who the lesser threat is.