Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

End With A Whimper

A week and 144 hours of debate later, the central committee meeting of the CPN-UML concluded with a press note that the party engaged in healthy debate and discussion about the performance of the government. In the initial stage, deputy prime minister Bharat Mohan Adhikary was vigorously criticized. But coming towards the end, the meeting endorsed his leadership in the government and Adhikary could emerge victorious. Whatever the wrongdoings they have done in the cabinet, party central committee has pardoned them. Whether it is the scarcity of sugar in the market or petroleum products or anti-national works of Labor Minister Raghuji Panta, CPN-UML central committee has pardoned them all. Finally, all the participant members including ministers and political leaders returned happy from Balkhu, central office. This is the UML's way of evaluating the party's performance.

No Time For Party

For the first time in the last six months, prime minister Sher Bahadur Bahadur Deuba seems to have found time to attend the meeting of his party central committee. Prime minister Deuba, president of Nepali Congress (Democratic), however, does not have to wait anxiously about the decision of his colleagues. As usual, Deuba will listen to all the grievances, criticisms and suggestions and then call off the meeting for another six months. It is not prime minister who needs a party but it is the party, which needs Deuba as its leader.

Party In Problem

Nepali Congress (Democratic) general secretary and former minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhedar declared that his party's central meeting was a great success. Although it was summoned after five months, all central committee members remained quite and disciplined. Gachhedar's, a newly appointed general secretary of the party, happiness is understandable as none of the party leaders have openly expressed dissension over the performance of the government. NC (D) leaders want to retain the party till the Nepali Congress concludes its general convention. If Deuba's government collapses before the convention, NC (D) will remain only in signboard.

UML Gags Dissidents

Few weeks ago, CPN-UML dissident leader K.P. Sharma Oli had publicly announced that the time has come to leave the government. Oli's argument was that the performance of the government was completely unsatisfactory. Supporting Oli, Bam Dev Gautam, another firebrand leader, announced that forthcoming central meeting with decide the fate of the ministers. After a week of intense debate and meeting, Oli revealed that this government needs to be in power to protect the democracy. We don’t want to see the fall of the government, he said. It seems that general secretary Nepal's group is able to press Oli to shut up his mouth. Whether one likes it or not, Oli has to defend the government. Although Gautam is yet to defend the government, he, too, has no alternative other than to follow the party diktat. This is the way the CPN-UML silences its dissidents.

Minister Disappointed

In the last six months, almost all ministers flew overseas on foreign tours. Minister for Science and Technology Balaram Ghartimagar returned after his five-day visit to Europe. Following his appointment as minister, it was Ghartimagar's first foreign visit. Following his trip, Ghrtimagar was frustrated as there were no media persons to receive him with questions at the airport.