Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

A Year Of Delusion

Nepal : Coming to terms with reality.

After claiming to be a consensus candidate for the post of prime minister for the last one year, CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal has finally dropped demand to be a lonely claimant to the post. He has made this about-turn arguing that he can sacrifice everything for the cause of the country. Whether it is the magnanimity on his part or a result of political compulsions, Nepal has certainly paved the way to end deadlock. Although general secretary Nepal did not mention the opposition within the agitating parties regarding his claim, he has found a golden opportunity to give up his demand saying that he will agree to any other name proposed by five agitating parties.

Thapa Benefits

Following the declaration of CPN-UML general secretary Nepal of having abandoned the claim to the top post, prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa seems to be the happiest man around. As congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala has already declared that he is not interested to lead the government and neither has he proposed any other name from his party, RPP leader Thapa, who has already declared that he is not interested to contest the elections, seems to have become a choice of compulsive for all. Known as a shrewd politician, prime minister Thapa is a perfect man to take decisions. Whether one likes it or not, prime minister Thapa has now gotten an opportunity to play his favorite game of politics.

Spread Of Unity

Following the patch-up of differences in Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and initiation of unification process in Nepali Congress, another rightist party Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) – which stands vertically divided in two fronts - is now blowing the unity pipe. Some NSP leaders have already floated the idea of reunification. Although two rival factions – one led by former deputy prime minister Badri Prasad Mandal and another led by powerful member of NSP (Anandadevi) faction Hridayesh Tripathy - are yet to open their mouths, some leaders in the two factions seem to have realized the need to unite to regain their strength.

Mainali Facing Counter Current

At a time when other rightists and centrist parties are on the process of unification, the communist party led by C.P. Mainali, a communist ideologue, is said to be heading towards a split. The party, which was split few years ago from mainstream CPN-UML, is struggling to remain intact. Since the history of communist movement in Nepal is littered with splits and divisions, the new development is nothing out of ordinary.

Deuba Does It

When five parties are launching valley concentrated agitation to press the king, former prime minister and leader of Nepali Congress (Democrat) Sher Bahadur Deuba also found it a good opportunity to hold the rally of his party in the capital. Former prime minister Deuba knows that this is very crucial phase for his career; and his bargain with the mainstream political parties will depend upon his strength. This is the reason why Deuba gathered more than five thousand demonstrators in the capital to show his Guru Girija Prasad Koirala that he, too, has the capacity to organize agitation. Readied by his two lieutenants Prakash Man Singh and Bimalendra Nidhi, his followers chanted only one slogan that is: restore Deuba government. Whether the demand is acceptable or not is one matter, but Deuba has shown clarity about his demand.