Kathmandu: A minor hitch has come on the way of the much-publicized UML-ML reunification.
Though the hitch is a minor one which would perhaps not block the way for the proposed reunification in between the communist paraphernalia for long but yet since the hitch revolved round a topic that in essence caused the very split some five years ago and hence what could be said at this stage is that the party even if united in a short time from now will continue to reel under the same controversy which caused its split.
The bone of contention is the controversial Mahakali Treaty signed with India in 1996 when Sher Bahadur Deuba was the Prime Minister of the nation.
To recall, the present day UML and its stalwarts considered the Mahakali treaty as one which would elevate the ranks of poor Nepal to that of Singapore and thus made Himalayan efforts at time of its ratification in the Parliament. On the other, the present day ML considered the said treaty as an unequal one and thus even described the treaty as an anti-nationalist act and opted to split the party.
The fact is that the ML led by Bam Dev Gautam wishes a happy reunion at the earliest but yet prefers to remind the UML stalwarts that the party prior to the unification agrees to accept the “differing stance” on the controversial Mahakali treaty.
This means that the ML still has not budged an inch from its previous stance on the Mahakali treaty. However, the change in its attitude if any is that the ML as a party wishes to join the UML albeit but registering officially its disagreements on the said treaty prior to the unification.
Unfortunately, the UML as a party does not want this ML stance to get incorporated in the final declaration of their would-be reunification.
Madhav Nepal who will benefit immensely from such unification finds himself closer to Bam Dev’s new stance but then does not have that courage to annoy his other friends in the party’s central committee.
In essence, Madhav Nepal is scared of his political rival-K.P.Woli who in effect remained instrumental in getting the Mahakali treaty ratified from the parliament. Insiders in the UML say that Comrade Woli is also very strong in the present day UML and from his inner heart wishes a total collapse of the unification talks. According to this source, Woli thinks that the moment Bamdev is in, he will be in a minority, which would mean the predominance of his political rival that is Madhav Nepal in practically all party-related political matters.
“Bringing in Bam Dev back again in the UML might change the internal equation in the party”, said a UMLite on condition of anonymity. Explaining it bit further the source added that Woli is really afraid of Bam Dev’s aggressive stances which he takes at crucial times.
Be that as it may, how the two parties take the matter pertaining to the Mahakali treaty will determine the fate of their reunion in the coming days and weeks.
Lastly, Bamdev Gautam’s eagerness to join the mother institution is also very curious indeed. Will Gautam’s presence in the unified UML bring about a substantial change in its existing policies? This will have to be carefully watched.