Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

Koirala Vs. Koirala

Nepali Congress general secretary Sushil Koirala recently declared that he is against nepotism and corruption. He even urged his boss Girija Prasad Koirala to take a strong stand against such vices. Bu if the elder Koirala takes any stern action against nepotism, it will be cousin Sushil's turn to resign. Congress insiders know that elder Koirala cannot clean up the party's mess against the wishes of Sushil. If that's the story, then what prompted junior Koirala to make such a demand? Simple. He wants to show honesty and integrity during these politically turbulent times.

Silent Spectator

CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal hasn't said much since he was rushed to a nursing home a couple of weeks after suffering from high blood pressure. As the elections approach, Nepal's disappearance from the masses would damage the UML's chance of winning a majority. Although UML leader Bam Dev Gautam is criss-crossing the country on the campaign trail, he has had little effect on mass mobilization. The sooner Nepal recovers, the better the UML's electoral prospects.

Old But Healthy

At a time when almost all young political leaders of Nepal have their own health problems, septuagenarian Girija Prasad Koirala is busy addressing a couple of mass meetings each day. Koirala has left Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal far behind when it comesto firing up supporters. Age is no bar in politics. As long as a person is full of spirit, commitment and passion, he or she can pursue the profession ó and power.

Man For All Seasons

Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) leader Surya Bahadur Thapa knows how to strike a balance within the party. At a time when his main ó and younger ó challenger, former prime minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand, is disappearing from the scene, Thapa is still active and strong. At a recent party central committee meet, Thapa was able to secure strong support on his strategy for the upcoming elections. Thapa's agility is comparable to Girija Prasad Koirala's. Interestingly, both represent Kosi zone. It seems the water of the mighty Kosi River has no match.

Another Jatra

Following the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA)'s dramatic raids on the homes of 22 civil servants working under the revenue department, anti-corruption slogans are making waves. The a socio-cultural dynamic here. Nepalese need festivals and jatras to celebrate. If they don't have any coming their way, they can create one. The CIAA raids have come in handy. From political forums to the streets to households, the new festival has made its presence felt. Thanks to the raids, we journalists, too, have no dearth of stories. Since Nepal has never been immune to corruption, however, what is the rationale behind this frenzy. Is there a story here?

United Actors

Although the number of Nepalese cine-artistes is small, they are divided into different organizations. They do not hesitate to unite when they see certain individual as their enemy. This week when Deepak Rayamajhi decided to go his way, all actresses and producers united until Rayamajhi apologized.