National 3 (Spotlight Weekly)

Deuba Bounces Back

Three weeks after PM Thapa stepped down, Sher Bahadur Deuba assumes the post for the third time

By KESHAB POUDEL

Deuba : Strong rebound

Political situation – which heated up following the resignation of prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa on May 7 – has finally cooled down after King Gyanendra appointed Sher Bahadur Deuba – who was dismissed in October 4, 2002 after being charged of incompetence – as the next prime minister under the Article 127 of the Constitution of Kingdom of Nepal.

“This is my reinstatement,” thundered Deuba, 58, president of Nepali Congress (Democratic) just after his appointment on Wednesday morning (2 June, 2004). “My first priority will be to include the leaders of different political parties in my cabinet, ensure security and hold the elections,” said Deuba, whose party also had launched nation wide agitation demanding his reinstatement.

Deuba’s reappointment is also being seen as a victory of people’s power. Ever since his dismissal, Deuba had constantly engaged in anti-regression movement on his own. His coming to the power also exposed the weaknesses of 18 months of experiments by the King.

Despite Deuba’s confidence, it is yet to be clear about the likely role of CPN-UML, RPP and other parties and whether they will take part in Deuba’s cabinet. “The CPN-UML will decide about this only after its standing committee and central committee meeting that will take place on June 3,” said a UML leader. Nepali Congress, as expected, termed it as a continuity of regression.

In the beginning, there were many aspirants for the post of prime minister but the race later narrowed down between the two - the outgoing prime minister Thapa himself and the former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at the last minute. Drama of the race unfolded following the meeting of outgoing prime minister Thapa with the King at the Royal Palace. King Gyanendra following an hour-long discussion with Deuba – who was appointed as the country’s chief executive for the third time in the last fourteen years, announced the appointment later.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat – who was declared as a probable candidate till Friday (May 28) – finally dropped himself from the race on Sunday evening when he declined to resign as the Speaker.

More than one and a half hour mid-night meeting between King Gyanendra and former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Sunday (May 30) changed the scenario and tilted it in favor of Deuba. After that meeting, Deuba started consultations with his sympathizers in the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and the CPN-UML.

This is not the first time when Deuba’s meeting at midnight transformed his fate. All the major decisions regarding him including the dissolution of House of Representatives and his dismissal had been made at night.

Following the circulation of news of a secret meeting between the outgoing prime minister Thapa and Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala, which took place on Wednesday morning (June 2), analysts predicted there could be shifting of power equations but it could not avert the course as it was too late.

Koirala’s political blunder seems to be responsible for the present situation. Surprisingly, Congress leader Koirala had paved a way for Surya Bahadur Thapa to become prime minister last year by not nominating any candidate for the post then. This Sunday’s decision by Koirala not to name anybody for the post of Prime Minister on behalf of the five party alliance has again favored his former disciple and current arch rival Deuba – who had split the party following his expulsion from the party in 2002.

However, when the country’s major political parties represented at the previous parliament are yet to settle the score, political uncertainty is likely to continue even after the appointment of new prime minister. As long as the House of Representatives is not constituted, the process of appointment of prime minister will remain controversial.

“Despite his appointment as a prime minister, it is not easy for Deuba to secure the support from all seven parties represented in the parliament,” senior leader of RPP Rabindra Nath Sharma.

The CPN-UML has already hinted that it will support candidates of parties even outside the five agitating brand provided King Gyanendra returns sovereignty to the people. “The deadlock needs to be settled and the country cannot go on without prime minister,” said Ishwor Pokharel, a standing committee member of CPN-UML.

Early this week, with the ending up of the deadline for the application of prime minister, thirty-five Nepalese including teachers, former prime ministers, students, social workers and leaders of smaller parties registered their applications at the Royal Palace Secretariat. After the differences among them, five agitating political parties did not send anybody in the palace for nomination.

This was not the first time when the King had sought an application for the post of prime minister. Following the resignation of Lokendra Bahadur Chand a year ago, King Gyanendra did similar thing. Then, the five agitating parties had put forth CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal as their common candidate. However, instead of appointing Nepal, King Gyanendra had picked up Surya Bahadur Thapa then.

Deuba is appointed as a prime minister again but the question remains to be seen how he can accommodate all the parties and convince them to contest the elections. Unlike Thapa, Deuba can be acceptable at least for some agitating parties.