National 1 (Spotlight Weekly)

Politics Of Opportunism

Thanks to the divided Nepali Congress – liberal democratic forces - the CPN(UML) is enjoying the power on its own terms

By A CORRESPONDENT

Just a few weeks after the formation of the government, the CPN-UML leaders have shown their true face of opportunism. Sharing power with Nepali Congress (Democratic) and holding six major portfolios, the CPN-UML is enjoying the power and still criticizing the government at every opportunity.

UML leaders : Displaying double standard

Almost all leaders of the CPN-UML including its general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal are critical to the performance of the government.

‘This government is not working as per the wish of the people. I have already directed our ministers to perform their duties honestly,” said Nepal addressing party workers. ”The initial decision of the government is unpopular."

Toeing Nepal’s stand, another politburo member Pradeep Nepal is also critical on the role of the government. “This government’s utility depends on how it will hold the peace talks with the Maoists,” said Nepal. "We will not remain in power just for the sake of power.”

The CPN-UML has a long history of betrayal. When five party agitation led by Girija Prasad Koirala was in the final stage of achieving success, the CPN-UML leaders backed out to let Sher Bahadur Deuba become a prime minister.

The CPN-UML charged Nepali Congress leader Koirala for betraying them by not nominating the name of their general secretary for the post of prime minister. After maintaining cozy relations with prime minister Deuba, the CPN-UML leaders now seem to be having second thoughts.

“Instead of criticizing the government, the CPN-UML leaders, if they are really honest, must ask their ministers to resign from the government,” said a senior leader of Nepali Congress (Democratic). "CPN-UML must give up its double standard.”

The populist slogans of the CPN-UML is understandable as its leaders have to bear pressure from their cadres – most of whom are backing the Maoists as being ideologically close comrades. The CPN-UML cadres want to see the revival of the local bodies since they controlled more than 70 percent of them. Their cadres also prefer to see the ceasefire with the Maoists. Besides, the party desperately wants populist programs so that they can contest the elections on a strong plank.

As far as the revival of the local bodies is concerned, all the political parties within the government and outside the government are against the idea with even some CPN-UML leaders, privately, against it. They are floating a proposal to constitute local bodies with few members.

The RPP and Nepali Congress (Democratic) have already made it clear that they will not accept any proposal for the revival of the local bodies. On the issue of ceasefire, the CPN-UML is pressuring the government to announce it unilaterally.

Following a few weeks of intense debate, the government has finally decided to form a committee to initiate the negotiations process with the Maoists. Prime Minister Deuba has already made it clear that he will hold the talks only after Maoists shows that they are going to be sincere this time.

This is not for the first time when the CPN-UML showed its double face. When the elections were held by a government in which it was also a partner in 1999, the CPN-UML later declared it as being rigged. In 1997, the party formed a government under the leadership of the RPP leader Lokendra Bahadur Chand but later the government was condemned as being regressive.

The CPN-UML has already shown that the party cannot become a sincere friend with anybody. From Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala to his student Deuba, all are at the receiving end of the party's strategy or betrayal.