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OFF THE RECORD |
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OFF THE RECORD |
Diverse Cabinet
Even as rime minister Sher Bahadur
Deuba announced to go for general elections, some of his ministers representing the
CPN-UML party - who also attended the press conference organized to unveil government's
latest offer of peace talks - acted as if they found it impossible. As usual Deuba replied
all the questions raised by media at the hour-long press conference. A major portion of
the conference was spent in Deuba's defense of his proposal of initiating the process of
holding the elections by the end of March. One of the interesting parts of the whole
program was that all of his ministers stayed quiet listening to the queries responded by
the prime minister. But when pressed to respond, many of them expressed lack of
possibility of holding elections. Key Disagreement
Although CPN-UML general secretary
Madhav Kumar Nepal is a key ally of prime minister Deuba's coalition government, he was
the first one to snub the proposal of holding elections. Just a few hours after Deuba's
announcement, Nepal made it clear that it was just a formality to show that the government
is committed to hold the elections. CPN-UML general secretary's stance is understandable
since his party's position is unclear regarding the elections. Nepali Congress could unite
either in the issue of holding elections or that of restoring the dissolved House of
Representatives. As a shrewd politician, CPN-UML general secretary Nepal does not have
other options but to decline both the conditions. One Party Two System The CPN-UML seems to be operating under the
concept of one party two system. As CPN-UML has shared key portfolios in the present
cabinet, it also had to share responsibility for all good and bad decisions of the
government. However, if recent actions of CPN-UML are any indication, it seems that the
party wants to take credit of the good decisions but dump all the bad decisions on prime
minister Deuba. From its student wings to youth and labor wings, all have found it
appropriate to hit the government. Their strategy, it seems, is to condemn Deuba for the
failure of the government. Shrestha's Concern
The RPP leader and Minister for Land
Reforms and Management Jog Mehar Shrestha is nowadays busy wooing the party workers
because many of his followers have started to flock to the new party floated by former
prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa. In a recent meeting with the party workers, Shrestha
predicted that Thapa's party would collapse soon as it did not have any base in the
countryside. Pointing to some of the leaders in Thapa faction, Shrestha said that Thapa's
new party's status is not going to be different than Devkota's party (whose splinter
RPP-Nationalist has been unable to garner any wide base). Whether his harsh statement
against the new party will lure the disgruntled party workers remains to be seen. Shrestha
is hoping it does. Meeting Under Pressure After intense pressure from party workers,
Nepali Congress (Democratic) is holding its central committee meeting. This is going to be
the first meeting following the formation of the government under the leadership of the
party president Sher Bahadur Deuba. At a time when the ministers represented in the
government are making joint strategy on how to present their case in the party meeting,
the newly appointed general secretary and former minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhedar is happy
to flex his muscles. Since his appointment as general secretary, this is the first meeting
Gachhedar will be presiding. |
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