127: a number behind the crisis

By: Niraj Aryal

Maoists demand ouster of Prime Minister Koirala. They want someone else in the office to start negotiation. The Nepali congress party is on the verge of a vertical split. Deuba becomes the Prime Minister. Suddenly the Maoists come to the table and the peace process commences.

If the peace-process succeeds, Deuba will be the most successful Prime Minister Nepal ever had. He is very close to write his name in the history books in golden letters. He doesn’t want to miss the opportunity. Obviously there are some who don’t want Deuba to take all the credits, if peace process succeeds.

Koirala and his likes don’t want him to succeed. But the common people start praying for the talks to proceed positively. Suddenly Mahara, the Maoists negotiator, receives a phone call; everything is destroyed in a second. No body knows who made the call and where was its origin.

People’s hopes and aspirations are all shattered.

There were people who celebrated the abrupt dismissal of talks. But the common men and the lovers of peace got stunned.

Deuba has no choice left but to impose the emergency and declare Maoists as terrorists. He did so. Deuba urges the King to dismiss the parliament-using article 127 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal.

The article 127 here I present for the kind perusal of my readers;

<Power to remove Difficulties: If any difficulty arises in connection with the implementation of this Constitution, His Majesty may issue necessary Orders to remove such difficulty and such Orders shall be laid before Parliament. >

King as per the recommendation of the elected prime minister does what he suggests. And orders him to declare the election as soon as possible.

Prime Minister Deuba is under great pressure. The government is unable to conduct election on time. The Maoists on the other hand are growing in forces.

News of explosion, fire, and destruction rocks the radio and television stations. The people are frightened.

Opposition does not take a chance. Great G.P Koirala and Madhav Kumar Nepal demand the King to come to the front and kick Deuba out of the office.

King is pressurized from all fronts. Media, political parties all wanted him to do so. He does exactly that. He had no option left but to use article 127. The King this time too played his own game. He very subtly declares Deuba as an incompetent Prime Minister Nepal ever had. Deuba was penalized for not being able to conduct the elections on time and to restore the worsening law and order situation.

What a turn around in Deuba’s fate? From becoming most successful prime minister, Deuba at the end is labeled as the most incompetent Prime Minister.

Koirala this time is unable to stop Deuba forming another party. A party more democratic than the original Nepali Congress. Deuba is now president of "Nepali Congress-Democratic". A post he could never had acquired before Koirala’s heavenly abode.

Poor Deuba these days is seen in the streets chanting slogans. He has become more vocal. He has started believing in himself. His recent tête-à-tête with the King has given him extra power. He might be thinking can the same article bring his lost prestige back? Can he be again appointed or reappointed as the Prime Minister? After all every body’s playing Prime Minister’s game. Until there is Article 127; every body can become a Prime Minster.

I am also on the race. The author can be reached at niraj_aryal@hotmail.com

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