Some hidden facts not so many people know

Much is being talked of Girija babu these days. Most of what are being talked of this lanky celebrity is understandably negative ones that completely fits into his roles.

That Koirala is a giant and towering political personality is unspoken. What is also understood is that he have had very hard times while working in support of democratic system in the country. In the course of action he has been sent to jails several times. He has a good documentation of being taken as a strong leader and commands respect from all sectors of the society. This stands valid till today.

However, what is not known to many in the country is his envious nature which he possesses in abundance, perhaps more than a normal person should have it in him. Add to this his haughtiness and obduracy that at times has brought down his name and fame both. It was his this nature which coupled with his giving priority over "connections and relatives" than to the state or for that matter the affairs of the party has estranged him with his own close aides who have had fought and struggled along with Koirala for decades and decades for the restoration of the democratic order in the country. The fact is that the present day Deuba congress is a group of Koirala sufferers.

To begin with, it was K.P.Bhattarai one of the most gutsy saint-like leaders of the congress party, who became the first victim of Koirala. After 1990 when Mr. K.P.Bhattarai took over as the country’s interim prime minister, Koirala devised several schemes to defame Bhattarai. As the luck would have it, Bhattarai survived Koirala’s game plans and successfully provided the nation with a new constitution.

Later, elections were held. Koirala’s congress got a pounding majority and ruled the nation for all along three and a half years. However, when some of the congress ministers, supposedly close to Bhattarai, were calculatingly sacked by Koirala, the congress virtually split into two: the group of 36 and the group of 74 emerged within the congress. The first group is with the congress-Deuba now.

In 1994 by-elections, Koirala openly rallied against the electioneering of his long time associate, Bhattarai, and managed his defeat. This was an open secret but then yet Bhattarai opted not to give fillip to the matter.

The next injured-party of Koirala then became Ganesh man Singh, one of the soaring personality of the congress from the very days of the party’s inception. Mr. Singh was so harassed by Koirala that after several years of dishonor and degradation, Singh quit the party and the manner he wept while quitting the party still should make some to weep. For Mr. Singh this event came as a tremor which he could not bear for long and finally left for his heavenly abode.

Now Mr. Singh gone out of the scene, Mr. Koirala redirected his target towards Bhattarai. Bhattarai became the prime minister in the late 90s, which Koirala couldn’t bear up. He devise several schemes and that too in series that one fine evening at the parliament Mr. Bhattarai, the nation’s prime minister, resigned from his post. Bhattarai’s tears could be seen in the television camera. The shock was so great that Bhattarai almost declared that he is not with the congress.

Later Deuba became the prime minister. This time Koirala lured him to declare emergency and Deuba did what he was told to do by his political counselor. Later Koirala backtracked and chastised Deuba by expelling him from the party. Deuba later formed Deuba-congress to which he presides at the moment. Here Koirala failed because Deuba continued as prime minister.

A few months later, Koirala in partnership with other political parties having representation in the parliament seduced Deuba and convinced him that since the elections could not be held on the stipulated time and hence ask the King to postpone the elections by almost a year and plus. Poor Deuba could not fathom the designs of Koirala and his coterie. He did what he was advised and the King dismissed him attaching a tag of incompetent prime minister.

Not so many people know that Koirala had urged the King to get rid of Deuba prior to the sacking.

Those who enjoyed Deuba’s sacking included Koirala on top and many others. Notably, Deuba’s sacking was not an act of regression for Koirala for a few days of Deuba’s sacking. However, it was an act of regression when he was denied the executive post. The story does not end here. Koirala when he knew that he is not in the good book of the King hence he proposed Mr. Chand be made the prime minister as he and his colleagues could not furnish a common name.

Later when Chand was dismissed, the same happened. The King sought some good names from the agitating parties. Koirala was in the race but the King was not in his favor once again. When Koirala knew this he then instantly proposed that Thapa enjoys his recommendation. Not many people know that Thapa was solely Koirala’s choice that coincidently matched with neighboring India’s preference.

Now when Thapa resigned, Koirala wished to exploit this golden opportunity for himself. In the process he forgot that it was not him but Madhav Nepal who was the consensus candidate of the FPA conglomerate. Recall how tempted was Koirala in meeting the King that he often ventilated his feeling that what is the harm in meeting the King in private as against the FPA directive that they would meet the King only collectively. The King later invited them all. Sources say that Koirala said the King: Your majesty! I wish if you could restore the parliament!

H.M: But Mr. Koirala tell me how I could do that?

Koirala: Your Majesty you can use article 127.

H.M.: But don’t you know that the Supreme Court has approved the dissolution?

Koirala: You can take a political decision in this regard Your Majesty!

H.M: I am afraid that I can go against the court’s verdict.

Koirala: You can influence the court if you so desire Your majesty!

H.M: How can I order the court to review its own earlier decision? Will that not amount to my interference to the court’s verdict? I can’t instruct the court Mr. Koirala! Don’t press me to exceed my constitutional limits Mr. Koirala!

In the process, the FPA could not furnish one common name for the post of the PM.

When the meeting ended, Koirala very made close proximity with the King and whispered into the ears of the King that if he needed further clarifications, he could meet the monarch even in private.

The King got the point but unfortunately invited Madhav Nepal the very next day. This enraged Koirala to the extent that he made several calls to the palace to seek an appointment with the King. The meet was fixed a day after.

When Koirala sensed that he is not the next prime minister then he opted to damage the prospects of Madhav Nepal. And while he was about to leave, he is said to have told the King to continue with Prime Minister Thapa, as the FPA would not send any name if his name gets deleted from the list.

Later, when the King provided a one-day ultimatum to the FPA and others to send clean names for the post of the PM, Koirala lingered the FPA meeting to the extent that it was almost quarter to five and little time left for sending a common name. The lingering was in effect to kill the time and barring the UML leader Madhav Nepal from becoming a consensus candidate. Poor UML knew Koirala conspiracy to the extent that the party also sensed that Koirala had already seduced the rest of the four parties in the FPA for what gains no body knew. One scheme was developed then to cover up their design in damaging the prospects of Madhav Nepal. "The King has yet to accept the demands of the FPA agenda and hence we have decided not to send the common name". This was done so only to kill Madhav’s prospects.

A frustrated Nepal and his colleagues tried their best to send a name but could not do so at the reluctant behavior exhibited by the FPA members.

An infuriated UML and its leader instantly decided to teach a lesson to Koirala. After all they were not fools to be fooled by Koirala’s congress for all time to come. The FPA political balloon in effect burst out instantly.

In the mean time, the King invited Deuba in one late evening. In all honesty, Deuba is leant to have convinced the monarch that he recommends Madhav’s name for the post. Deuba also told the King that if Madhav is elevated he and his party together with the RPP and the NSP would come to support Madhav’s candidacy.

It was around this time, Indian Ambassador suddenly became active and reportedly made rounds of meetings with Koirala, Mr. Nepal and Deuba for reasons best known to him only.

The King was in a tight spot as he could not get any name from the FPA. While this was th situation, the visit of Natwar Singh had already been announced. To tackle the emerging void the King invited Deuba last Wednesday morning and the whole act of the search of a clean prime minister came to an end.

One can only imagine how Koirala would have taken Deuba’s elevation to the rank of the prime minister?

It is not that Koirala is a lost case now. He still commands respect and honor in the society. He is a great political man. He is a strong leader indeed. He can steer the nation in a much more strong manner than any one else. However, the lack of magnanimity in him even for his own cadres, disciples, colleagues is what is damaging his credibility and prestige as a political man. Or else, he is and continues to be a great leader. I respect this leader from the core of my heart not only because he hails from my hometown but also in effect he is a revered politician whom the country needs for long time to come. But will he now change himself and act more like a guardian providing wise counsels to even the King and the political parties?

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