Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

Party Contender

Deuba : Inching closer

Former prime minister and Nepali Congress (Democratic) president Sher Bahadur Deuba is, now a days, busy wooing his former party colleagues to put pressure on his Guru and Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala. Despite Deuba’s pressure tactics, no body is willing to follow his advise. From Ram Chandra Poudel to Narahari Acharya, former prime minister Deuba has visited many leaders but no one has bought his idea. One and a half year ago when Deuba split the party, Poudel rejected to join his group. Whether one likes it or not, former prime minister Deuba remains one of the strong contenders for the leadership of the mother NC party.

Politics Of Boycott

In the last eighteen months, Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala did not share any program attended by former prime minister and his political disciple Sher Bahadur Deuba. CPN-UML leaders, however, have made it possible to make these two friends-turned-foes share the same program. The tea reception organized by the CPN-UML on the occasion of the Nepal Sambat new year provided the opportunity to have a face to face meeting between Deuba and Koirala. Although the first public meeting did not bring any marked change in their behavior, it has transformed the untouchable status of the former prime minister Deuba.

Sensational Leader

CPN-UML leader K.P. Sharma Oli knows how to sensationalize any issue. For the last two months, CPN-UML leader Oli remained in the news headline owing to his harsh comments against his party’s decision to launch the joint agitation. At a time when two Congress foes shared the political platform created by the CPN-UML, Oli did not attend it. When some journo contacted him for his comment, Oli simply replied it was his tit for tat against his party leaders who often criticize him for not cooperating with the joint agitation. Absence of Oli made former prime minister Deuba uncomfortable since the cozy relations between the two leaders is an open secret.

Nepal : Comradely travel

Foreign Fun

At a time when his party leaders and colleagues are busy going overseas on foreign junkets, CPN-UML general secretary Nepal has not lagged behind. Although his colleagues went seven seas away, CPN-UML general secretary Nepal has chosen to visit Kolkata ‘ the great Indian communist citadel’. He even took an economy travel through railways from Gorakhpur. In doing so, CPN-UML general secretary proved that he is really a communist leader who enjoys traveling in a mass transport used by proletariat. Upon his arrival from Gorakhpur to Nepalese border town, CPN-UML general secretary Nepal, however, chose airplane to fly to capital.

Tables Have Turned

A couple of years ago when National Sports Council dismissed elected president of All Nepal Football Association Ganesh Thapa, Nepal Olympic Committee president Rukma Shamsher Rana took the side of the Council calling the elections conducted by Thapa as a bogus one. President Thapa went to the Apex Court for justice but the Council captured ANFA’s office terming Thapa as illegitimate. The situation has reversed now. This time Rukma Sumsher is in trouble following the decision of the council declaring the elections of Nepal Olympic Committee as illegal. Although Thapa has not openly sided with anyone now, he seems to be closer with the NSC.

Chand’s Tactics

Former prime minister and RPP leader Lokendra Bahadur Chand is now a days busy criticizing agitating political parties as well as his party colleague and prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa. Former prime minister Chand’s criticism against agitating parties are understandable since he was compelled to resign because of their growing agitation. But his criticisms against Thapa so soon has raised many eyebrows.