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OFF THE RECORD |
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OFF THE RECORD |
Where Does Poudel Stand? Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel
has declared that he would stand with Girija Prasad Koirala until the last minute. Poudel
had given similar assurances to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba until the last minute,
before finally siding with Koirala. In fact, Poudel was said to have assured the Deuba
camp that he would accept the presidency of the breakaway party in case Koirala declined
to support Deuba. All went awry when Poudel suddenly moved to Koirala. Nobody knows how
long Poudel will stick with him, though. After all, Poudel's loyalty to Koirala was
exposed last year when he resigned as deputy prime minister and home minister as soon as
Koirala deployed the army to Holeri to rescue abducted policemen.
Joshi's Justification Former minister Govinda Raj Joshi has
declared that the party led by Girija Prasad Koirala is the legitimate Nepali Congress.
Although he had many arguments to prove his faction's legitimacy, Joshi tabled a weak
case. Replying to journalists at the Election Commission, Joshi said the Congress faction
where Girjababu stood would always be genuine. Nobody knows whether his argument pleased
others, but Nepali Congress general secretary Sushil Koirala seemed to be happy. In the
Koirala-led Congress, Joshi seems to have the final word these days. Although journalists
posed many questions to general secretary Koirala, he directed them to Joshi, as if he was
his boss. Fight for Legitimacy The Nepali Congress faction led by Prime
Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has not budged a bit in claiming to be the legitimate party.
Deuba's camp has presented many documents, including the newly amended party's
constitution, to the Election Commission to prove its claim. The problem with both parties
is that they still carry many of the same names on their lists. If our commissioners are a
little perplexed, they have good reason to be.
Thapa Speaks Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) leader
Surya Bahadur Thapa finally has announced that his party would contest the forthcoming
elections. Although the RPP took the decision a month ago, many were surprised by Thapa's
statement at the last moment. Following the dissolution of the House of Representatives,
Thapa opposed Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's decision to dissolve the House of
Representatives, but he changed his stand when his parliamentary party overwhelmingly
opposed his move. Follow the followers, as they might say. Turf War Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka and Water
Resources Minister Bijaya Kumar Gacchedar were recently in Biratnagar, the hometown of
Nepali Congress supremo Girija Prasad Koirala. Khadka and Gacchedar were in town to
address a meeting of eastern region workers. The timing of the visit was significant, as
Koirala was in Khadka's home area at the same time. It seems that Koirala and Khadka are
in a race to woo followers. Who will succeed remains to be seen. Keep watching. |
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editor: spotligh@mos.com.np |
