Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

Rationale Behind Roadmap

CPN-UML is a very unpredictable party and no one can guess what move it will take in politics in the days ahead. Although senior party leaders including general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, central committee members K.P. Sharma Oli and Bam Dev Gautam have many differences on personal basis, they share the common ground. Till a few months ago, it seemed that the CPN-UML was once again on the verge of split but the party was suddenly united when CPN-UML leader Nepal proposed a new road map – which is completely contradictory to 18-points common demand of five agitating parties. Whatever the rationale behind the roadmap, it was useful in bringing together all political leaders of the UML together.

Poudel’s Point

Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel has declared that the agitation against the regression will continue till the constitution is activated. Confused and unclear, Poudel seems to have forgotten what his earlier proposal was and what will be his next proposal. Although former deputy prime minister Poudel stuck to his earlier stand that the reinstatement of the House of Representatives is the only way to activate the constitution, he remained silent about the roadmap presented by the UML. Poudel must shed all inhibitions and speak his mind.

Mandal’s Method

At a time when all kinds of politicians as well as so-called civil society activists are coming up with their own brand of roadmaps to resolve the political impasse in the country, former deputy prime minister and president of Nepal Sadbhvana Party Badri Prasad Mandal has declared that he also has the solution to the present problems. Mandal was compelled to resign a year ago when his own police force came out heavily against the leaders of agitating parties. At a recent meeting, Mandal has regretted his own decision to order to take stern actions against the agitating parties. His decision not only sparked the agitators but even replaced prime minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand.

Row In RPP

RPP leaders are still in the midst of the political struggle. At a time when the RPP leader and prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa has openly declared that he does not have any mood to resign, party’s leaders are now working to develop another strategy to push Thapa and his followers to the brink. While senior leaders of the party are yet to take any decision, prime minister Thapa’s followers are not planning to take major and drastic steps to avenge the party leaders anytime soon. Former Panchas have a long history of confrontation and internal feud; and the multi-party democracy has given them ample space to flex their muscles. In the last two months, many alliances have been made and unmade within the party among the former liberals and regressives in their quest for bitter power struggle.

Resting Assured

Prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa’s followers have confirmed that one of his astrologers, who arrived from Indian city of Calcutta, has predicted that his tenure will be safe till the end of Chaitra (March). Prime minister Thapa sought to know about what stars say regarding the life of his tenure when he witnessed continual pressures from leaders of country’s major political parties. Whatever the mood of agitation will be, there will be no threat to prime minister Thapa and even King cannot dismiss him, the astrologer stated. In an uncertain situation like now, astrologers can be more dependable than the political pundits.