Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

Political Fairness

Everything is fair in love, war and politics. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is a good example of this adage. Although he betrayed his party leader Koirala who had promoted him by giving him unexpected advantages, Deuba has recently tried to mend up differences by visiting the house of his guru. Following the meeting, Deuba returned with hopeful signs. Interestingly, his hopes shattered next morning when his guru’s party took a decision terming his appointment as a continuity of regression. Whatever the political gains that Deuba has made of late, but his present brain Pradeep Giri has, at least, heaved a sigh of relief. For Giri was concerned whether Deuba and Koirala will again join hands. But as the adage goes, the curtain is yet to fall and one might witness a lot in the days ahead.

Party Of Contradictions

The CPN-UML survives in contradictions. Although its general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal was the first to congratulate prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, he is the first man again in the party to oppose the move to join the government. In a recent meeting of party central committee, the proposal of Nepal to support the government from outside was rejected by the majority members. Nepal also failed to convince the members in the standing committee. Although Nepal is opposing the move, PM Deuba has turned into one of his diehard supporters. Deuba often visits Nepal’s residence to seek the latter’s advice.

Stealing The Agenda

With the appointment of Deuba government, Nepali Congress party seems to have no other agenda in hand other than to criticize Deuba. Congress spokesman Arjun Narshing K.C., too, seems to be following the party’s decision to criticize Deuba with earnest zeal. In a recent press conference, K.C. disclosed that Deuba is no more than a lame duck prime minister. Just after his appointment as a prime minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba had gone to meet former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala – who is the top boss of K.C. - Koirala had congratulated Deuba and given him best wishes. K.C. seems to have ignored this reality as he continues to criticize Deuba.

Payback Period

The leaders of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) take turns to criticize their own party. After a long drama of harassing the government led by Surya Bahadur Thapa by party president Pashupati Rana, it seems that now it is the turn of Thapa for some payback. RPP leader and former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa seems to be playing a political game to harass party president Pashupati Sumsher Rana. In a recent meeting summoned at his Maligaun house, Thapa declared that this is not right time to join the government. At a time when a section of RPP led by Rana is preparing to join the Deuba government, Thapa’s decision is certain to create troubles. It seems that shrewd Thapa has already made it clear that he would not forget those people who opposed him during his tenure and organized a demonstration seeking his resignation. Although Thapa’s meeting was informal and attended by one third of elected members, his voice has sparked a row. Whether one likes it or not, Thapa still has many cards to play.

Gautam’s Wishes

The CPN-UML leader Bamdev Gautam has started making interesting and politically meaningful predictions. In a recent interview, he predicted that this government would tackle all the burning problems of the country. Until a few months ago, when Surya Bahadur Thapa was Prime Minister, Gautam had said that the country was in the brink of collapse and that nobody would rescue it. Following the appointment of Deuba, he seems to have changed his mind by starting to back Deuba. Nobody understands the reason that prompted Gautam to support Deuba.