Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

Media Mass

Prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba did not know how many journalists would welcome him at a meeting. Organized by his close associate Dr. Narayan Khadka, who described it as an exclusive meeting with few Nepalese journalists, when prime minister Deuba arrived at the venue he was upset. From television cameras to journalists from weeklies and dailies to radios, Dr. Khadka did not exclude anybody. Whether exclusive or inclusive, Deuba had to reply scores of questions posed by so many journalists.

Nepal’s Tone

Responding to the queries regarding the delay in the formation of full-fledged cabinet, CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal laid the blame squarely on the prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. Whether one likes it or not, CPN-UML leader Nepal does not hesitate to reveal that it is not because of his party but the dispute within the Nepali Congress (Democratic) that has been delaying the process. Although prime minister Deuba disclosed a week ago that the cabinet will be expanded after the acceptance of common minimum program by the four major political parties, Nepal publicly declared that he has a final list of candidates from his party ready. I cannot disclose their name before the prime minister demands it, he said.

Rana-Thapa Meet

After nearly a year, two RPP leaders – the current party president Pashupati Sumsher Rana and former prime minister and RPP’s founder president Surya Bahadur Thapa - held more than an hour-long talks to sort out their differences. When Thapa was prime minister, Rana minced no words in criticizing his government. This time when Thapa is out of power and Rana is closer to power, the two leaders seem to have found a common ground. In the last one year, this is the first kind of meeting between Rana and Thapa, which can put the 13 years old party together. Whether one likes it or not, RPP leaders are aware of the disadvantages of dispute among them. For the time being the meeting averted the formal split of the party but the dispute is yet to be sorted out.

Calculated Demands

Nepali Congress general secretary Sushil Koirala seems to be facing tough time keeping his colleagues together. At a time when some of his party colleagues like former deputy prime minister Ram Chandra Poudel are demanding the post of party general secretary, junior Koirala finds himself in trouble. To make compromise, general secretary Koirala has already supported another demand raised by Poudel – that of opening the debate on Constituent Assembly. Embarrassed by junior Koirala’s move, octogenarian Koirala has also changed his stand declaring that he is also ready to discuss on the issue constitution assembly. This shows how Poudel’s calculative demand has triggered changes in the minds of two Koiralas.

Olympic Debate

At a time when countries around the world are making hard efforts to win medals in the forthcoming Athens Olympics, Nepalese sports officials are yet to take any decision on how the country plans to fare in the global sports competition. The dispute between Nepal Olympic Committee and National Sports Council is yet to be settled. National Sport’s Council member secretary has clearly said that he would not mind canceling the trip in case Nepal Olympic Committee does not come to its term. Amid this dispute, Nepal’s sports sector has badly suffered.