National 1 (Spotlight Weekly)

Nepal At the Helm Again

After being re-elected to a third term, CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal surveys the challenges ahead

By KESHAB POUDEL

At Sita Janmabhumi (Sita's birthplace), a radical turned moderate communist party gives a signal of unity. When the country's major democratic parties are splitting on personal grounds, the CPN-UML has come out with the message of solidarity.

"We have become stronger now and our party convention has given us a mandate for unity," said Madhav Kumar Nepal, addressing a press conference at his party headquarters in capital Balkhu. "We will turn our unity into strength," said Nepal, who is leading the party in his third term as general secretary.

Nepal (left) with his comrades : First among equals?

The message of solidarity given by the UML is very significant at a time when another radical communist outfit has called a cease-fire and agreed to negotiate with the government. Few believed the UML would return united from its seventh convention in Janakpur. Since Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli and Bamdev Gautam formed a joint panel against Nepal, it was virtually a miracle in the history of communist parties that the UML stayed together.

Known as a moderate leader, Nepal knows how to command and control radical workers in the grass-roots level. Had the CPN-UML split, it would have spawned a number of radical communist factions.

The radical communist parties are influencing the course of national politics, as democratic and liberal communists have receded into the background. "The rise of radical communist forces in Nepal is not in favor of Nepal's harmonizing Hindu religion nor is it in favor of the democratic ideals. Radicalization of Nepalese politics will definitely have far-reaching consequences not only in Nepal but in South Asia as a whole," said an analyst.

With Nepal at the helm, the radical forces in the UML will be tamed and contained. But how long will he be able to prevent the radicals coming to party's central body. Even at the Janakpur convention, Nepal had to follow the guidelines framed by the radicals. During his entire five-day stay in Janakpur, Nepal and his team wore the green Mao hat and green shorts reminiscent of China's Cultural Revolution.

Until a decade ago, the politics of Nepal was virtually in the hands of moderate and traditional forces, whereas the presence of communists was very negligible. After the People's Movement of 1990, the communists emerged as a strong force, replacing the former panchas and the Nepal Congress.

After the cease-fire and conclusion of a political settlement, the Maoists would join the contest for Nepalese political mainstream and seek to cut down the strength and size of Nepali Congress, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Nepal Sadbhavana Party. What will be the role of the UML then?

"We are committed to democratic principles and the democratic process. We will focus our whole strength on the protection of the gains of the People's Movement of 1990," said Nepal.

Taming radicalism would not be that easy, especially since the people have seen such politics for the last 12 years. "Now we are facing the trouble and difficulty in radicalization of the political process. The day will come sooner when the creator of these forces will have to face the consequences," said a political analyst.

The newly re-elected UML general secretary would have a tough time ahead in controlling radicalism. He may have to keep a close watch on his domestic flank. If his rivals in the UML were to feel sidelined, the easiest way they could make their presence felt is by resurrecting the ideology of radicalism.