Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

Legitimacy Crisis

When the Election Commission finds it difficult to determine the legitimate Nepali Congress, the people's perplexity is but natural. In the last month, Birendra International Convention Center has become the venue for two major conventions of the rival Congress factions. Last month, delegates assembled at the center unanimously elected Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba as their new party president after expelling Girija Prasad Koirala from primary membership of the party. Koirala's followers captured the same platform this month to denounce Prime Minister Deuba's dangerous games. Since both Congress factions are using the same flag and election symbol, the people can't figure out who's who.

Poudel's Pride

Former deputy prime minister and Nepali Congress central committee member Ram Chandra Poudel deserted Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at the last minute by failing to show up to deliver that all-important address he had promised. But he kept his word to the Girija Prasad Koirala camp, where he seems to be firmly ensconced at the moment. Despite strenuous efforts to win Koirala's confidence, Poudel is yet to get a position in the party. After all, the Deuba faction promised him the party presidency. Whether Poudel will go up the Koirala Congress pole remains to be seen. But the opportunity to address the supremo's loyalists seems to have given him immense pleasure and pride.

Splinters' Success

The rapid success of events following the split in the Nepali Congress has pushed the opposition into the shadows. As the elections approach, both Congress factions are busy wooing voters in the name of the old party. Despite having kicked off their election campaigns rather early, the main opposition CPN-UML and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party are yet to impress the people. Regardless of whether Deuba or Girija wins, it seems the moment is for the tree and the four-star flag.

Nepal : Eye on Singh Durbar

Relaxed Comrade

CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal is not in a hurry. However the Nepali Congress skirmishes over the party flag and election symbol plays out, he will stand to gain. In the meantime, his UML is polishing its hammer and sickle and sun. Following the merger of the CPN-ML with the UML, Nepal's workload has been cut by half. If the Nepali Congress remains divided this way well into the elections, Nepal could finally expect to attain his long-cherished goal of becoming prime minister.

Ranabhat : Jet set speaker

Ranabhat's Travels

The House of Representatives stands dissolved and there is no one to prevent Speaker Taranath Ranabhat from going on foreign junkets. At a time when his party is finding trouble mustering the strength to face the voters, Ranabhat seems to be more concerned about going on foreign trips while his official term lasts. As speaker, Ranabhat has made history by traveling as far afield as Bourkina Faso and North Korea. How could he have skipped South Korea this time after all the World Cup publicity the country got? It seems Ranabhat doesn't really care whether Koirala or Deuba is in charge, provided, of course, his own position in the party is secure.