Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

Family Affairs

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba enjoys attending public functions. And when such function is organized to present award to his own wife, his joys knows no bound. Last week, PM Deuba was seen grinning from ear to ear when he was asked to present award to his psychologist wife Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba who prefers to call herself an active professional social worker. In an interesting move the organizers of the function invited PM Deuba to award his better half. Although it seemed odd, the western educated wife of prime minister Deuba did not mind accepting the award from her husband. Whether one likes it or not, this is one of the biggest achievements of the five-months-old nominated prime minister Deuba.

Nepal In Dubious Role

The dubious role played by CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal has already created turmoil in the four party coalition. The recent actions of the leader of the proletariat showed that he is willing to compromise on every issue if it benefits him and his party. Even though the UML is one of the partners in the coalition, Nepal does not mind demanding the government declare unilateral ceasefire as if he is a leader of the opposition. While meeting with the press, CPN-UML general secretary flatly rejected any possibility to withdraw from the coalition. Although his dubious role is creating confusion, he is least bothered.

Words But No Deeds

Nepal is always ahead in making decisions but behind in implementing them. At a time when the country’s higher education system is struggling to revive its quality, Education Minister Bimalendra Nidhi has found it proper to add another university in Janakpurdham. This is not the end of the story. While Nidhi is trying to open university at his own hometown, Tourism Minister Deep Kumar Upadhyaya has also proposed to set up another university in Lumbini area - his constituency. Right now only the ministers representing Nepali Congress (Democratic) are demanding the universities. In case the pressure comes from the CPN-UML, what will happen? If Nidhi can demand King Janak University in Janakpurdham and Upadhyaya can demand Buddhist university in Lumbini, what will be wrong for the CPN-UML to demand Marxist, Leninist university in Pokhara?

Negative Gautam

The CPN-UML leader Bamdev Gautam has a reputation of speaking in negative sense. Whenever some of his colleagues try to be positive, Gautam comes up with negative remarks. For CPN-UML workers, Gautam represents the negative syndrome. A decade ago, Gautam was known as a pro-Nepal (general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal) leader and he helped Nepal establish his strength in the party. Gautam sided with Nepal as long as the latter took negative views. But he was quick to desert the Nepal camp as soon as the CPN-UML general secretary started harping on positive lines.

Shrestha's Comeback

The RPP leader and Minister for Land Reforms and Management Jog Meher Shrestha is an old hand in Nepali politics. With nearly three decades of involvement in Panchayat politics, RPP leader Shrestha has finally been appointed as a minister in the post 1990 government. Unlike in the past, Shrestha now shares the cabinet with the three main political parties - Nepali Congress (Democratic), CPN-UML and Nepal Sadbhavana Party. Although the leaders of all these three parties had some kinds of bitterness with Shrestha, they, too, now enjoy share the cabinet with him. For Shrestha, it took a decade of hard politicking to finally make such a remarkable comeback.