Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

Deuba's Mood

Prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is not in a happy mood. Since the formation of the government under his leadership, Deuba has already faced numerous problems. From wooing CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal to the RPP leader Pashupati Sumsher Rana and the NSP president Badri Prasad Mandal, Deuba has to work hard. For the first month of government formation and cabinet expansion, prime minister Deuba had hard time convincing his coalition partners. After some relaxation, he now finds himself again in trouble. This time not from his coalition partner but from his own party men who are not happy with the composition of the government. As usual, Deuba will always be happy to patch up the crack as much as possible.

Changed Tone

Adhikari : Tight-lipped

The CPN-UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari used to be an easygoing person. But after his appointment as the deputy prime minister in four party coalition government, his way of speaking has suddenly changed. At a time when most of his party colleagues and media were exaggerating the news and sending distorted version of facts surrounding the Kathmandu blockade by the Maoists, Adhikari came out to condemn the actions. Although many saw Adhikari's defense against media propaganda as being just a ministerial duty, the way he spoke was very bold and powerful. Adhikari was the most forceful government voice during the whole episode overshadowing other ministers including the Royal nominee.

Thapa's Respite

After a month-long volley of assaults against RPP president Pashupati Sumsher Rana, former prime minister and founder of RPP Surya Bahadur Thapa seems to be in a relaxed mood. Despite his declaration, Thapa is yet to permit his close coterie to float a new party. Octogenarian leader Thapa knows that his age is not on his side and that his party colleagues who are siding with him now are neither dependable nor predictable. This seems to be the reason why Thapa dropped the idea of splitting the party. In his last four decade long political career, Thapa has already proved to be a shrewd players of politics.

Nowhere To Run

Khadka : Between rock and a hard place

After his removal from the ministry two years ago, former home minister Khum Bahadur Khadka has been facing double-edged threat. In his hometown Dang, the Maoists have already confiscated his property ordering the peasants not to pay anything to Khadka. Not only from illegitimate force like the Maoists, the Commission of Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), too, has withheld all the property of Khadka in the cities. It seems that Khadka has to face the wrath from both the ends. One of the similarities between both the Maoists and the CIAA is

Bastola : Behind the scene

that the both are the product of cynical opinions and are groomed by powerful media houses.

Pulling Strings

Former foreign minister and Congress leader Chakra Prasad Bastola is nowadays playing the politics from behind. Many Congress leaders want Bastola to stand as a candidate for the post of party president in the forthcoming party convention but he is yet to open his card. By taking anti-Koirala stand, Bastola has opened his front for all other groups but he is yet to disclose all of his cards. In the last twelve years, Bastola survived in Congress politics by remaining in confusion.