Bhattarai’s Resignation

As a true democratic leader who has sacrificed more than six decades of his life for the sake of democracy and the multi-party democratic system, Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, while delivering a thought provoking and heart-touching speech at the House of Representatives the other day, announced his resignation from the post of Premiership after 69 NC lawmakers registered a no- confidence motion against his leadership. It is but natural for Bhattarai who is the only living founding member of the Nepali Congress to have resigned after majority of his own MPs have shown no-trust against his premiership but the questions he raised in the august House before announcing his resignation definelety seek sincere and serious pondering not only from the NC lawmakers but from the leaders and politicians of all the parties and the intellectuals as well. It should also be borne in mind that there are still some forces who are hell bent on proving that the country and the people are not yet ready for democracy and democratic polity. Against this background the questions raised by the Prime Minister Bhattarai ‘why do tides of instability arise whenever the government takes steps against rampant corruption, moves towards good governance and initiates cordial discussions with the opposition to lead the country to the path of development’ need an analytical dissection from all the democratic minds. Besides these, the positive attitude from the so-called Maoists who are waging the ‘people’s war’ since last fours years, to sit for talks and sign of improvement in the decade old Bhuanese refugee problem towards solution might also have become a stumbling block for those who want instability in the country. Unfortunately, the leaders of different hues and colours knowingly or unknowingly fall victim to the power play played from behind the curtains.

The voluntary resignation of Bhattarai and his full cooperation to the next government is an exemplery example of his commitment towards parliamentary democratic norms and values  and can be regarded as an unprecedented event in the history of Nepal’s parliamentary democratic dispensation. It has paved the way for smooth and peaceful transfer of power and shows that values are more important for him than power and prestige.

In fact, the septuagenarian leader Bhattarai has been giving importance to value based politics and for that he has to suffer many humiliations and conspiracies but these ploys did not deter him in his mission rather made him even more committed for the politics of principles. It should not be forgotten that Bhattarai has given great emphasis on politics of ideals and morality in whose absence, he says,  the whole system becomes  weak and there would be no future for democracy and the country. Keeping this in mind, the second generation leaders who have time and again proved their efficiency and capabilities even during the times of crisis and on whose hands Bhattarai wishes to hand over the leadership should be serious to carefully handle the unconstitutional unbridled and uncontrolled political ambition whenever they raise their head as people have pined great hope on them.

It is a matter of great satisfaction that unlike in the past when parliamentary party leader used to be elected unanimously this time there is one more democratic exercise in the elections for the leader between NC President Girija Prasad Koirala and former Prime Minister Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. But what should not be forgotten is the fact that the new Prime Minister and his team has a Herculean task ahead in maintaining law and order among various other problems, and fulfilling the commitment made by NC during the last general elections.