Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

Kc: Spitting venom

Spokesmen's Duel

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala seem to have entrusted their spokesmen, Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta and Arjun Narsingh KC, with trading detailed charges of bad faith. Minister of Information and Communication Gupta is defending Deuba's decision to dissolve parliament and call fresh elections from all possible angles. Nepali Congress central committee member KC, on the other hand, is explaining the nitty-gritty of Koirala's warning of a conspiracy against democracy. Regardless of the merits of their arguments, Gupta and KC seem to be fanning the flames of tension on behalf of their bosses with some adeptness. KC, who was a minister during the Panchayat system, is questioning the democratic commitment of Deuba. For his part, Gupta, a staunch Koirala loyalist until fairly recently, is accusing the party president of highhandedness. Interestingly, Gupta and KC are said to enjoy very close personal links. One cannot rule out the possibility of their joining the same platform somewhere down the road once the dust settles.

Mission Destruction

In one sense, Arjun Narsingh KC and Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta are on the same mission: destroying the image of the people they are supposed to be defending. KC's relentless denunciations of Deuba serve to cast Koirala in a poor light. The anti-Koirala tirades unleashed by Gupta are taking a toll on Deuba's own image. Come to think of it, even if Gupta and KC were to switch camps today, they would still be doing the same job.

Changing Postures

In the volatile world of politics, a die-hard communist like Bam Dev Gautam can turn into a sparklingly democratic leader by expressing his readiness to seek the people's mandate. In describing the mid-term elections as a conspiracy against democracy, a liberal politician like Girija Prasad Koirala can end up flouting the right of the people to choose their representatives. Who said the behavior of political leaders was predictable?

Gautam: Turn around

Deuba's Race

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is desperately wooing cabinet colleagues into his camp. Following the dissolution of the House of Representatives, the prime minister has organized a couple of meetings for the purpose. In his bid to canvas supporters, Deuba is said to be making all kinds of promises. A man known for his ability to strike compromises, Deuba evidently needs to rely on that skill more than ever before.

Troubled MPs

Most of the MPs of the dissolved House of Representatives have their own set of grievances. Having gathered in capital expecting to attend a long and fruitful session of parliament, MPs of various political parties suddenly realized they had lost their lucrative jobs. Many MPs are queuing outside the parliament secretariat to settle their accounts. Those representing remote parts of the country in particular are in no position to visit their constituencies. So they spend time demonizing Deuba for taking away their jobs.