Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

Happy Nepal

Nepal : Turn aroung

The CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal seems to be a happy man following the decision of prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to form a high-level committee to coordinate among coalition partners and to decide on major national issue. Nepal who went to attend the meeting at the Prime Minister's residence in Baluwatar finally returned with the message to his party workers. Till a couple of days ago, Nepal had declared that this government was losing its utility. After the meeting with the prime minister Deuba, the RPP leader Pashupati Sumsher Rana and Nepal Sadvavana Party leader Badri Prasad Mandal, Nepal declared that this government would bring normalcy in the country. Pressed by criticisms from one of the powerful coalition partners CPN-UML, Deuba was really in a trouble. The latest statement given by the CPN-UML general secretary may have given him a time to heave a sigh of relief.

Boost To Ministers

Having faced the continuous attacks by their general secretary, the ministers representing the CPN-UML have finally heaved a sigh of relief. Deputy prime minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari - who was in trouble till a couple of days ago - ordered the senior ministry official at the Finance Ministry to take necessary actions. At a time when the oil price has already gone up in international market, the finance minister Adhikary has to support the price increase proposal by the Nepal Oil Cooperation. Since general secretary Nepal has already announced the mandate of the government, no one needs to worry anymore. Nepal has already declared that the government is in right track.

RPP Row

Two former prime ministers and RPP leaders Surya Bahadur Thapa and Lokendra Bahadur Chand have always lived in two different camps opposing each other. Interestingly, they have found a common platform now. Following the constitution of the coalition government when RPP leader Pashupati Sumsher Rana recommended his candidates for the post of ministers, Chand was piqued. To express his displeasure with Chand and Thapa have joined hands surprising many. There is no such thing as wrong act in politics as long as the enemy is same. Thapa and Chand know that only their unity can make difference in the party equations where RPP leader Rana still holds the majority. It is yet to be seen how long this new friendship will last.

Spoilsports

Although the Minister for Sports and Education Bimalendra Nidhi mediated a ceasefire between two warring factions of the Nepal Olympics Committee, the ceasefire did not last even a week. On Monday when Nepalese sports team assembled at the international airport to fly to Athens, the players and sports officials realized that member secretary Kishor Bahadur Singh was yet to bury his differences with Rukma Rana - the powerful NOC president. Member secretary Singh had written a letter to the Immigration and police authorities at the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) asking them not to allow any players to leave the country without his permission. Thanks to the efforts of vice president Dhurba Bahadur Pradhan the players could finally fly to Athens. Singh seems to be still angry with president Rana. Caught between the warring factions, the players were the ultimate loser.

Acharya : Uncertain course

Acharya's Act

Former deputy prime minister Shailaja Acharya is known as a whimsical person. For quite a long time, Acharya was very unhappy with the decision of the party. According to Acharya, the party should not go for the Constituent Assembly. Interestingly, she announced her candidature (for the post of party president in the forthcoming general convention) with the support of the followers of Constituent Assembly like Chakra Prasad Bastola. Nobody understands what will be her stand in case Acharya wins the party presidency. Will see back Chakra Prasad Bastola's views or her own remains to be seen.