Kathmandu: The aftermath of the King’s eastern regional tour and his public speech has as expected provoked considerations among the political parties which oppose his current measures. Among other things, thew largest such party, the Girija Congress, would seem willing to positively consider the democratic aspects of HM’s speech and as was expected Girija babu blew hot and cold in his Burwal gathering this Monday on the subject. Also, the triangular fight in the UML among Nepal, Woli and Bam Dev has taken up the Palace as an issue and it is unlikely that the Biratnagar event will be ignored outright at Janakpur UML bash early next month.
These reactions by themselves portray the significance of the King’s Biratnagar move and s its success. At the mass level, the signal clear. The political organizations can ion no way use the strength of their organizations can in no way use the strength of their organizations to ramrod opposition to the Royal move. They must moreover, prepare for the coming elections which the king has charged the government to facilitate in order to restore multi-party democracy.
Criticism of the Biratnagar gathering border on the mundane and the superfluous. Despite the skepticism the gathering was sizeable and spontaneous. This, despite the party’s concerning to sabotage the gathering itself. Moreover, for the first time in over a decade, the public mover outright ignored the call of a “Bundh”. Significantly, the first major public gesture chose to ignore none other than the Maoists. Reversals these opposition strategies are clear and so, to the feeble jousts of skepticism.
At another plane, the King has personally chosen to appeal to his people to cooperate in his attempts to check the tide of national failures and he has chosen to assume the world publicly of his commitment to democracy and good governance. Its significance will not be lost on the opposition.
One escape has been for government. It is the government that must deliver the king’s to his people. It is not for nothing that the opposition find easy meat in hitting at government performance as a means to oppose the Royal move. His Majesty’s instructions to government, to his accompanying Prime Minister make the new mood more than obvious. The people are expectant. Who will cash in on the new mood is yet to be seen.