Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

Poll Aftermath

With the completion of the elections of the student union, the jubilant student leaders of Nepal Student Union (NSU), affiliated to the Nepali Congress and All Nepal Free Student Union (ANNFSU), affiliated to CPN-UML, are busy celebrating their victory. From campus premises to main streets, the victorious students occupied all the open spaces. Till a week ago, the two students unions were together arguing that they are jointly struggling for the cause of democracy. Following the elections results, however, it seems that student leaders are more concerned about their strength in the campus rather than political camaraderie. Whether one likes it or not, student leaders even have started to openly criticize each other. Even some of the student leaders did not mind to using the offending words.

Bandh For the People

It has been the tradition in this country that whoever calls the general strike or Bandh, they say it is for the cause of people. Though the poor and common people at the street have to bear all the brunt, the general strike organizers defend their bandh saying that it is for them. Fed up by the frequent bandh, people have gradually started to disobey the call. After the announcement of five day long Bandh, the Maoist student wing, too, seems to have realized that people were disobeying their call despite the incidents of bombing and physical assaults. Like all other student unions, the Maoists, too, withdrew their general strike on the third day arguing that it was due to the request of common people. This is a good way to escape from the apparent failure of their bandh.

Nepal : All Party Favorite

Long Wait for Power

CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal disclosed that he does not mind leading an all party government in case he received the support from all. Similarly, prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa is also hoping to include the leaders of major political parties so that he could term it as an all party government. Although Nepal’s party terms Thapa’s government as a continuation of regression, some of his colleagues have already quit from the party to join Thapa’s government. It seems that Nepal will have to wait for a long time to receive all party support to replace prime minister Thapa.

PM Thapa : Burying the hatchet

Dispute Resolution

Former political rivals of ruling RPP have finally found a common ground to bury their differences. Thanks to the efforts of former Congress leader Bishwo Bandhu Thapa, RPP’s warring factions have agreed to meet in Pokhara in the second week of March to decide on the matters related to internal affairs of the party. Although prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa’s senior ministers and RPP leaders have not spoken for a long time, this time they agreed to share a common table. Interestingly, it was at the Party headquarters. Despite certain understanding between the two warring factions, they are yet to settle the core issues related to the party.

Chand : What do soothasyers say ?

Star Wary

Former prime minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand is known as a politician who always takes decision on the basis of advices of astrologers. This time, too, it seems that someone gave him the advice regarding the forthcoming political scenario. After a long silence, Chand declared that something would happen in the country in near future – in March/April to be exact. Nobody understands on what basis former prime minister is speaking, but given his past record, one can expect that some astrologer is behind his sudden prediction.