The proverbial Old Tiger and…….

Politics is practiced to be in power. Politics is practiced to remain in power. Politics is practiced to continue in power. So in one way or the other, politics is the game of power. One who emerges victorious in this game rules and conversely those who lose the game fit into the category of "to be ruled". However, the process of the game should be transparent so that those who fall in the domain of "to be governed" could feel that the man who is ruling them henceforth will stick to the fair plays of the game and would deliver goods to the people. This is apparently the rule and the procedure through which one governs and conversely others are governed. Not so many players of politics stick to these established rules of politics. Different definitions suiting to one’s interests are already in vogue, which have distorted the very meaning of politics more so in the developing countries including South Asia. The prevalent scenario is that to acquire power even the foul use of 3M’s-media, muscles and money-has become common in this part of the world. Nepal could be no exception to that.

It is in this light that we must consider the NC led fresh drama which the national population was mercilessly forced to witness regarding the no confidence motion moved by Deuba against his former mentor and the subsequent victory bagged by his rival-Koirala. The whole affair beginning the pushing of the motion in the NC parliamentary committee against Koirala and the tricks and the tactics played by the latter to foil the move appeared like a childish game. It reminded the national population of a game popular among children wherein one child demands the ball from his opponent so that he or she could enjoy the game alone and the child in whose occupation is the ball denies summarily which ultimately creates ugly scenes at the playgrounds.

Who had the ball in fact and who wished the ball for him were pretty clear. However, what should be also clear is that once the same ball had been snatched by the one who currently possessed the ball from one of his nearest and dearest friend applying threat-practice. This time, however, some preliminary rules were followed to snatch the ball. This notwithstanding the whole finale of the national drama was a forgone conclusion. To defeat the designs of Deuba apparently all the legal and illegal games were allegedly played and the person demanding the ball has fallen flat which was more or less sure to happen.

The recent drama in the NC has made clear so many things, which will mark tomorrow’s congress politics. What is evidently sure now is that Koirala’s opposition has come of age and time permitting will converge again until they manage his total ouster thus relieving the party from the Koiralafamiliocracy. Secondly it has also become pretty clear that Koirala’s opposition have started treating their former mentor only as their rival and not more than that. To put it mildly, now Koirala and his family members must not expect too much of respect and honor from their party-men for obvious reasons. The prestige, popularity and the honor, which late B.P.Koirala had earned for his family members through his unforgettable contributions perhaps, will soon come to an end. The existing family of late Koirala too apparently contributed for this to happen. A delayed repentance will not work now. It is too late. A new set of fresh second-generation leaders will sooner or later take the party in their command for good.

Be that as it may, now that Koirala has won the game and that he has been airing that henceforth he would concentrate his entire efforts in maintaining the unity in the party. If he does so will perhaps determine his longevity in the party and the government. Failing to do so will cut short his tenure in both the institutions. However, those who understand Koirala family arrogance and soi disant nature better will perhaps take Koirala’s fresh talks of forging unity very lightly. A broken glass will possess scar even if it is glued nicely. The fact is that the Nepali Congress party remains divided and broken. The present utterances of Koirala is simply a routine affair to which he has been pronouncing as and when he has emerged from disasters of the sort just witnessed.

With malice to none, we wish to quote a Nepali proverb which is as follows: "Baagh Budho Ra Shyal Tanderi". Its literal meaning is that even if a Jackal is in its youth can’t yet outmaneuver an old tiger. Who is tiger and who could be the jackal of the proverb is perhaps clear from the fresh results of the power-game in the ruling party. The drama will perhaps continue at time of Pokhara convention a fortnight from hence.

Headline | National | 5 Question  | 2nd Impression | International | Past |