Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

Fasting For Progression

With the installation of the new government and expansion of the cabinet, one chapter of a yearlong agitation finally came to an end for the four parties joining the government. For Nepali Congress leaders – who are out of coalition, the process of relay hunger strike has begun as a matter of choice. As a departure from its earlier agitation that disrupted the normal life of people, Nepali Congress seems to have opted to give rest to its workers and leaders. This is the reason why the Congress announced the month long relay hunger strike throughout the country terming the recent government of four parties as a continuity of regression. A year ago when Nepali Congress leaders began their hunger strike, they had the backing of the CPN-UML but now they are on their own.

Hectoring Nepal

Deputy prime minister and finance minister Bharat Mohan Adhikary and nine other CPN-UML ministers are busy nowadays attending various felicitation programs organized by their party committees. Interestingly, general secretary of the party Madhav Kumar Nepal presides as the chief guest on every occasion giving lectures to his ministers what to do and what not to do. At one function, Nepal declared that the time had come to show that the UML team is strong and committed. Nobody knows how CPN-UML’s ministers will fulfill the wishes of the party general secretary. As long as Nepal breathes down the neck of UML ministers, the poor fellows can have a little or no time to think coolly.

Chain Of Split

Following the expansion of the cabinet by Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nepal Sadbhvana Party is virtually in the process of breaking apart. As soon as the name of ministers were announced and its party president Badri Prasad Mandal appointed a cabinet minister, party’s two senior most leaders Mirgendra Kumar Yadav and general secretary issued a statement denouncing Mandal as being opportunist. Yadav’s anger was understandable, as Mandal had earlier assured to nominate him to the new cabinet. Strangely, Mandal himself recommended his name at the last minute. It seems that Nepal Sadbhavana Party will now have three splinter groups including that of Anandidevi, Mandal and Yadav.

RPP In A Row

Revolt is not unique to Nepal Sadbhavana Party. Rastriya Prajatantra Party members are also equally vocal against the decision of the party president to nominate three persons for the new cabinet. Soon after the announcement of the news, RPP spokesperson Roshan Karki spewed venom against party resident Pashupati Rana. Karki’s dissatisfaction has valid reasons since Rana had nominated Prativa Rana, mother-in-law of prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba - as a woman candidate for the government. After this shocking decision, Karki is yet to decide whether she will go back to the old fold led by former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa or continue to side with the party president, who conveniently ditched her at the critical moment.

Dream Come True

For RPP leader Jog Mehar Shrestha, the appointment as a minister is a dream come true. Although Shrestha was the longest serving minister in the Panchayat days, this is for the first time when he got an opportunity to be a minister in the cabinet of prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. In the last twelve years, Shrestha was often denied any position including the ticket for national assembly but he continued to show total loyalty to the party leadership. Even his close friend Lokendra Bahdur Chand did not recommend his name for the cabinet. This time, however, his dream to become a minister in multi party system has come true.