National 1 (Spotlight Weekly)

Uncertain Game

As the RPP steps up its demands, prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s effort to expand his cabinet receives a jolt

By A CORRESPONDENT

Suddenly but not surprisingly, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) leaders have forwarded some demands causing trouble to the one-month-old Deuba government. Backed by the CPN-UML, Deuba needs induction of RPP leaders to show that his government is an all party one.

When the country’s two major political parties Nepali Congress (Democratic) and CPN-UML have come close to sign the common minimum program – the parties were poised to make it public at the time of writing of this article on Wednesday (June 30) - the RPP’s demand for equal sharing of power could shatter Deuba’s hope of forming four party government within this week.

Although the Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala has already declared that his party would not join the government, his visible and invisible role seems to be decisive in directing the political course. It seems that political leaders are waiting for Koirala’s return from New Delhi before expanding the cabinet. Despite the backing of two major parties – UML and Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) - prime minister Deuba does not enjoy real power like his guru Koirala. From his own party to his allies CPN-UML and RPP, prime minister Deuba has to conceal many things including what he has achieved from the King.

Rana : See. saw stand

The turn of events show that Koirala still holds real political power and can make or break the political course. In the political struggle, prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was given the post of prime minister but Koirala remains powerful player.

Till Monday afternoon (June 28) the RPP leaders were saying that they would soon sign a common minimum program to form an all-party government under the leadership of prime minister Deuba. Nobody understands the rationale behind the sudden change in their position. The RPP leaders now are demanding equal share in the government with ample ministerial berths.

“Since Nepali Congress (Democratic) and CPN-UML have shown that they are major players of the coalition, we will not participate in the government as long as the two big parties do not agree on our agenda,” said a senior RPP leader.

The RPP leaders now have begun to say that they will not simply sign the CMP agreed upon by the NC (D) and the UML. “We demand that our points including setting up peace secretariat to carry forward the peace process and the appointment of all party committee to run the local bodies be included in the CMP,” said Khem Raj Pandit, an RPP leader.

The major political parties are said to have agreed on sharing the power on the basis of their strength in the previous elected parliament. According to their own plan, NC (Democratic) and CPN-UML are to be allocated six cabinet ministers each. RPP is to receive three and the NSP two.

From the first day of his appointment, Deuba has been harping on a one-point agenda of giving his cabinet the status of all party government. CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and RPP leader Pashupati Shumsher Rana, too, are supportive of Deuba’s agenda.

“The cabinet will be formed within a couple of days. We are in a close contact with RPP leader to short out the differences,” said one of the close advisors of the prime minister.

Interestingly, it is yet to take the shape of the full-fledged government. Although the country has been passing though a very crucial phase, the country is being run by just the three-member cabinet for the last one month.

Although Deuba’s immediate predecessor Surya Bahadur Thapa ran the government for 11 months with just six-member cabinet – smallest in the history, Deuba, too, seems to be set to set a new record.

“Deuba’s government will turn into an all party government next week,” said CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal. “Our party will nominate the members for Deuba’s cabinet.”

Whatever may be the reason, prime minister Deuba’s plan for cabinet expansion is still in a limbo. The political course indicates that the three-member cabinet will continue to exercise all power until the cabinet is expanded.