National 1 (Spotlight Weekly)

Right Man In Wrong Place

Despite his strong stature as an experienced politician, Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala is moving in the wrong direction

By KESHAB POUDEL

Koirala : Lack of clear stance

In his 55-year political career, Girija Prasad Koirala has seen many ups and downs. He held the prime ministerial post for more than seven out of the 12 years since multiparty democracy was restored in 1990. Although 79-year-old Koirala has consistently remained a monarchist, nationalist and democrat, his recent actions have raised new questions.

Koirala has been widely condemned for his performance, particularly in terms of allegations of corruption and irregularities. Interestingly, the political strongman has taken refuge in a 10x14 room in the house of his nephew Dr. Shashank Koirala, son of the late B.P. Koirala, and renowned eye specialist. Koirala meets the prime minister, ministers, party workers and foreign ambassadors in this cramped space. Many party activists and supporters say they find it difficult to breathe in the cramped quarters on busy days.

Recent actions and pronouncements by Koirala suggest that he is associating with wrong companions who are dragging him into needless controversy. His credentials as a democrat were questioned when he suspended his one-time disciple Sher Bahadur Deuba and other colleagues from the party without giving them an opportunity to clarify their position. The way he has been running the party organization has come in for criticism from his supporters as well.

Koirala's commitment to constitutional monarchy, too, has been called into question following his recent statements reported in the leading newspapers. Koirala has often complained that some newspapers distort his opinion, but he has rarely retracted those statements in public.

"Koirala returned to Nepal along with his visionary brother B.P. Koirala calling for national reconciliation with the King and traditional forces to preserve Nepal's national identity," said a political analyst. "But he is now portrayed as a villain using the most undignified language against the institution of constitutional monarchy in violation of his own values. Wider the division between political forces and the king, greater the threat for Nepal's political stability."

Koirala's political career has shifted from one end to the other. Had he accommodated junior colleagues like Deuba, Khum Bahadur Khadka, Bijaya Kumar Gacchedar, Purna Bahadur Khadka and Chiranjibi Wagle, today's political crisis could have been easily averted. Instead, Koirala has chosen to align himself with such rivals as Rastriya Prajatantra Party leader Surya Bahadur Thapa and CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal.

In his own party, so-called loyalists often mislead Koirala. On several occasions in the last 12 years, Koirala has been left bereft of advisers when he has been in trouble. Nobody knows whether those surrounding him are people of his choice or someone else's, but Koirala has been thoroughly misguided. Former foreign minister Chakra Bastola, who claims to be trustworthy member of Koirala's anti-monarchy drive, was never a loyalist of the former premier. A former ambassador to India and a close relative of the Koirala family, Bastola took a neutral stand every time differences surfaced between Koirala and Bhattarai. Mahesh Acharya, Narahari Acharya and Ram Chandra Poudel have set their own record of betrayal against Koirala. The Acharya duo was virtually unknown when Koirala catapulted them to power.

Koirala has seen four kings and worked with three - late King Mahendra, late King Birendra and King Gyanendra. Nobody understands how a mature and strong political leader could ride the bandwagon of Narahari Acharya, Laxman Basnet, Amod Upadhyaya, Mahesh Acharya and Chakra Bastola, who are promoting the party leader to take confrontational stand. In his memoirs, Atma Britanta, B.P. Koirala praised G.P. Koirala for his skill and patience in negotiations. Junior Koirala took part in several rounds of negotiations with late King Mahendra.

"If the king cannot restore the House of Representatives, the party is to prepare to go for the constituent assembly. We are not compelled to be a prisoner of conscience," said Bastola at the party's central committee meeting last week.

The influence of Basnet on Koirala is so strong that the party chief left an all-party meeting on Friday to attended a talk program organized by the Nepal Trade Union Congress, which Basnet heads. At that forum, Koirala was surrounded by many of the same intellectuals, professors, politicians and lawyers who have been provoking Koirala.

"Instead of demanding the restoration of the House of Representatives, the Nepali Congress must demand a constituent assembly. Even if the king were to restore the House of Representatives, the executive power will be exercised in the way it has just been," said professor Krishna Khanal at the interaction program. Other intellectuals, too, joined hands to provoke Koirala to adopt tough stand, as voices of reconciliation receded.

Koirala's life has been full of political struggle, but never before has he been seen taking the contradictory stands that have followed his resignation as premier a year ago. Koirala can still change the political course for the better, but he has to use his own mind and speak his own language.