Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

Experience Counts

Thapa : Shrewd character

Former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa has proved that he knows the rule of Nepalese politics. To the utter surprise of his colleagues and other leaders of political parties, Thapa decided to open a new political party. Although nobody knows what shape his new party will take, Thapa has already announced a nationwide program to lure the people who are currently staying neutral. When Thapa inaugurated his party office, he was happy to greet a big crowd. Although Thapa had announced to form a party including people from different walks of life, he is yet to name the members. Thapa seems to be waiting and watching the political scenario unfold.

Setback To Thapa

Surprisingly, his former loyalist and former minister Keshar Bahadur Bista has given him a major setback by announcing his intention to float another party with like-minded people. Like Thapa, Bista will also have to lure politicians from the same group. Both their targets is going to be the same - former Panchas, frustrated Congress and frustrated communists. Who will win the race remains to be seen.

Mending Fences

Nepal: Political move

The CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal has proved that there is no permanent foe or friend in politics. When Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala declined to recommend the name of Nepal as prime minister, all CPN-UML leaders had turned against Koirala. For six months, Nepal and his party colleagues tasted all benefits of coalition government with prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. Suddenly, CPN-UML general secretary came knocking at the door of Congress leader Koirala. Whether one likes it or not, the meeting between Koirala and Nepal was not only a tête-à-tête but a politically meaningful dialogue. One is yet to see whom it was directed against. At a time when all the CPN-UML leaders are pressing to walk out from the government, Nepal's meeting with Koirala is certain to have some political agenda.

Deuba : On the backfoot

Behind Deuba's Back

Before leaving for Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba consulted his party colleagues about the possible consequences of Koirala-Nepal meet. Although CPN-UML leaders defended the meeting as just a formal meeting to apprise the situation about the peace process, Deuba's colleagues smelt political motives. In the last twelve years, Deuba has already been betrayed a number of times by the CPN-UML leaders. Therefore, Deuba seems to be preparing his own strategy to counter the growing affinity between Koirala and Nepal.

Road Stoppers

Obstructing the road seems to be the universal quality shared by all the major political parties of Nepal for the last twelve years. Whenever they organize any protest rally, political leaders find it convenient to block the road. If they block the road at the heart of the city, it will take hours for the traffic to readjust. With the announcement of week-long political demonstration by four political parties, the traffic at the heart of the city is certain to be disrupted for hours. It seems that nobody is in a mood to give up this easy but nonsensical and annoying way of protest.