National 2 (Spotlight Weekly)

Deuba’s Compulsion

Following his appointment as a prime minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba declares that his priority will be to unite the party

By KESHAB POUDEL

Soon after his appointment, prime minister and Nepali Congress (Democratic) president Deuba met his Guru and Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala at his residence in Maharajgunj seeking for his blessing. Next day at his first press conference, prime minister Deuba reiterated his commitment towards party unification.

Although Nepali Congress party has drawn the conclusion that the appointment of Deuba is a continuity of regression, Koirala congratulated Deuba for his appointment and wished for his successful tenure. By visiting the Koirala residence, Deuba indicated that there is a possibility of unification of the Nepali Congress.

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What prompted Deuba to talk about the party unification all of a sudden? If election is held when Congress remains divided, the CPN-UML and other opposition parties can wash out both the Congress.

By talking on an agenda of party unification, Deuba can also widen the opportunity to make frequent contacts with his mother party. Being a handicapped prime minister without popular support of elected House of Representatives, Deuba needs strong backing from all including his mother party to bargain with the monarch.

Deuba – who has benefited from his centrist approach - can put certain pressures on the monarch and the army – whose combined force is much powerful than a prime minister without parliament – only by enjoying the strong backing of the party.

If the prime minister Deuba had the support of parliament, he could have put pressure on them saying that he will take the issue to the House of Representatives. Two years ago, the House of Representatives had summoned the chief of the army staff as well as police chief to seek clarifications on certain issues.

At a time when even the main opposition party CPN-UML – which consider Deuba’s appointment as a first step towards correction of regression - and RPP are hesitant to join his government, Deuba would not be much different than his predecessors Lokendra Bahadur Chand and Surya Bahadur Thapa who were also appointed under the same Article 127 of the Constitution.

Deuba – who had launched the agitation on his own concentrating on one point agenda: his reinstatement – knows the importance of party unification. “ I favor unification of Nepali Congress party,” said prime minister Deuba. “I have already initiated the process of unification.”

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The verbal commitment by Deuba is not enough to unify the party. What is required is a big heart and genuine efforts. “Since prime minister Deuba is in power, it is his duty to initiate the process of unification,” said an analyst.

Despite certain differences between Deuba and Koirala, both of them are still closer than anybody else in their respective parties. “ Personally, Koirala and Deuba still maintain good relations and privately, they can still share their own difficulties.”

From sending to London School of Economics in 1987 to appointing Deuba as a Home Minister in 1993 and backing his election as the Congress parliamentary leader in 1995, Koirala had always stood behind Deuba, ignoring even Shailaja Acharya. In 2001, Koirala had declared neutrality in the elections of parliamentary party leader when Deuba defeated Sushil Koirala, Girija’s own cousin. Had Koirala backed general secretary Koirala, the result would have been different then.

“We must exploit the present historic opportunity to unify the party,” said a senior leader of Nepali Congress on condition of anonymity. “If we miss the train this time, it will be very difficult in future.”

The long association of Koirala and Deuba – who are now backed by hostile groups - shows that they share many commonalities and political ideology than anybody else in their family and political party.

Trapped in a dispute generated by Acharya trio - fire brand Congress leaders Shailaja Acharya, Narahari Acharya and Mahesh Acharya - Koirala, who still enjoys the real party power, can find relief from a bunch of his inner circles including family members in case of unification. Among the Acharya trio, Narahari Acharya, a former teacher - though he is neither a regular politician nor any scholar of political science - has mysteriously maintained his influence in the party.

Although Narahari was the architect of 18 points agenda - which pushed the centrist Congress to the extreme end and failed to achieve any success - general secretary Sushil Koirala was blamed for it. This time the issue of constituent assembly was raised by Acharya and a committee has been formed under the convenership of Sushil Koirala to look into it.

On the other end, Deuba, who is surrounded by Pradeep Giri, Chiranjibi Wagle and Prakash Man Singh, also seems to be in a tight spot. The unification will also provide a relief to him from undue pressure.

Whatever influence their coteries have in the minds of Koirala and Deuba, their personal decisions can make a lot of difference in both the parties. As Koirala is unchallengeable leader in his party, Deuba, too, has not questioned his stature. Within Nepali Congress (Democratic), too, there is no leader to challenge Deuba.

Like Deuba who is said to be influenced by Pradeep Giri, nephew of former prime minister Tulsi Giri and a staunch anti-Koirala; Koirala too has his own coterie who are pulling them apart.

At a time when the two top leaders are formally and informally making bid for unity, a large number of Congress workers are also pressing for it. If there is going to be election, Congress does not have any option other than to unite.

Deuba’s appointment as a prime minister is very close to the revival of the House of Representatives. When King kicked him out, Deuba was the leader of the House of Representatives. By appointing leader of the previous House of Representatives, King Gyanendra also showed his commitment to the parliamentary democracy.

On the other hand, by visiting his residence to meet Koirala, Indian foreign minister Natwar Singh showed who enjoys the real power in the present politics. Instead of taking political suggestions from Nepali professors, Koirala would do well to follow his political instincts. Deuba, too, has to get rid of his scholar advisors like Giri, Chiranjibi Wagle, Bimalendra Nidhi and Prakash Man Singh.

If guru and student sit together and open their hearts about the political reality, there is nothing impossible in the way of the party unity. This is the best time for the Congress unification as the King has appointed the leader of previous House as the prime minister.

Leader of divided Congress, Deuba - who is known for his flexibility and accommodative stance – will have to bow down with CPN-UML and RPP’s all unnecessary demands. Furthermore, he cannot bear pressures from other quarters as well. He cannot please all forces all the time. For Nepali Congress and Girija Prasad Koirala, alienation from the power for a long time will not serve their political interest.