Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

Moderates Strike Back

Nepali Congress leaders have a hard time trusting each other on national issues. A few months ago, when moderate central committee members Ram Chandra Poudel, Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat and Narahari Acharya tried to patch up differences with the rival faction led by Sher Bahadur Deuba, they came in for heavy criticism from hard-liners like Sushil Koirala, Govinda Raj Joshi and Arjun Narsingh KC. Having waited long to trap the trio, Poudel, Dr. Mahat and Acharya finally got their turn. Although the Congress had been demanding the reinstatement of the House of Representatives, Joshi and KC signed an all-party resolution on postponing the elections. At least the moderates got their opportunity to hit back at the hard-liners before national politics took another turn.

Betrayal Spat

After Sher Bahadur Deuba requested the King to postpone the elections for a year, CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal immediately issued a statement accusing the prime minister of betrayal. Nepal argued that the all-party meeting had authorized Deuba to avert the impending constitutional deadlock by postponing the elections by a few months. When Deuba dissolved the House of Representatives, Nepal and his party colleagues projected themselves as the new rulers. On the eve of the announcement of the election schedule, UML leaders concluded they could not go to the polls. After several rounds of meetings, UML leaders agreed to postpone the elections. In the end, Deuba had his way - until, of course, he was shown the door.

Old Controversy

In less than a month after receiving the Election Commission's recognition, the Nepali Congress (Democratic) landed in the familiar one-man-one-post controversy. Raised by Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka, the powerful general secretary of the new party, the one-man-one post slogan created panic in the rank and file. Although many ministers opposed it, some new ones saw good reason to offer their support. If Khadka's proposal is endorsed, the Congress (Democratic) may split again, although matters have been overtaken by events. In any case, Deuba and his group fought tooth and nail with Girija Prasad Koirala on the issue, only to land in the same dispute.

Family Matters

Sujata Koirala has finally spoken about her political future. The daughter of Congress strongman Girija Prasad Koirala announced that she would contest the elections. As soon as Sujata's statement hit the headlines, a cold wave gripped the extended Koirala family, where there is no shortage of leadership claimants. As Sujata has been working in remote and accessible parts of the country through the Sushma Koirala Foundation she head, and knows more political tricks, Shailaja Acharya and other Koirala family members are probably counting their last days in politics. Once Sujata formally enters politics, they might announce their retirement.