Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

Strong Agitation

After joining the government by the CPN-UML, the five party agitation was reduced to four but they seem to be in no mood for compromise. The leaders of four political parties have announced that the forthcoming agitation beginning from 21 September is going to be an assertive and strong one. Whenever the leaders of Nepalese political parties talk about the strong agitation, what they usually do is lit fire on more tires at the street. Last time when Nepali Congress leaders asked to protest against the security obstruction on Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala, they fired more than 200 tires. This time how many tires they will set to fire in the streets of the capital remains to be seen.

Controversy On Gautam

Gautam : Courting Controversy

In the last ten years, the CPN-UML leader Bamdev Gautam has demonstrated a typical political character who enjoys controversies. From his role as a deputy secretary general of the CPN-UML and the general secretary of the splinter CPN-ML, Gautam did not hesitate to court controversies. And he did so mostly by making rash comments. Although all of his party colleagues are trying to forge an alliance with Nepali Congress (Democratic), Gautam declared that the life of the government will depend upon its performance. After his recent foreign trip, Gautam seems to have gained confidence. But those who are close to Gautam know that he is a man of hollow commitment.

Poudel’s Dilemma

Even though his party colleague Shailaja Acharya has already announced candidature for the post of party presidency in the forthcoming general convention, Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel seems to be in a dilemma. Following the split of Congress party, most of Poudel’s colleagues had joined the rival faction led by prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. Although former deputy prime minister Poudel has been trying hard to prove that he is a diehard follower of Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala, there is no one who will buy his arguments. Most of Koirala’s loyalists consider Poudel as a leader with dual character. Following the split in the party, Poudel has already lost trust and confidence of his old friend and current prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. At this stage, Congress leader Poudel has only a few options before him. But it seems that Poudel is keeping his lips sealed for the time being.

Thapa’s Confidence

Thapa : Busy plotting

One of the main characteristics of RPP leader Surya Bahadur Thapa is that he can make every impossible thing possible. This is the reason whenever the country faces the crisis, Thapa, who has already undergone a cardiac by-pass surgery twice, has chosen to lead the country. In a hostile atmosphere, Thapa held the elections for national referendum in 1979. Following the differences with party president Pashupati Sumsher Rana, RPP leader Thapa is now trying to set up a new party to cut the size of Rana. Although his former rival Lokendra Bahadur Chand has already refused to support him, Thapa is now forging friendship with his old rivals like Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani and Kamal Thapa.

Divided We Stand

National Sports Council has a long history of factionalism. The factional politics in the NSC is further widening now under the leadership of member secretary Kishore Bahadur Singh. Recently, NSC celebrated its 31st anniversary but only a few former member secretaries were invited to attend the program. The ceasefire between the Nepal Olympics Committee president Rukma Sumshere Rana and Singh has already been broken down.

Bijukchhe’s Leadership

Narayan Man Bijukchhe, the leader of Nepal Peasants and Workers Party, seems to be happy following the withdrawal of the CPN-UML from the five party agitation brigade. As the CPN-UML has already lured a number of his workers from mid-west, Bijukchhe’s party has turned into a Bhaktapur-centric one. After joining the five party agitation front, Bijukchhe has turned into a national leader sharing equal strength vis-à-vis two major political parties Nepali Congress and CPN-UML. After the split, Bijukchhe has to follow only one leader of the big party now.