Kathmandu: Former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the congress party chief has become totally restive.
He has reasons to be impatient. For he knows what the Prime Ministerial chair means for a personality of his stature who has in all along these past twelve democratic years occupied this prestigious chair for himself. However, the fact is that the nation under him could not do better and hence his repeated bouncing back to power must not have come as a pleasant affair for the lay men save his cronies and henchmen. His penchant for the chair is limitless, say his own compatriots.
A close look at his recent fiery and significant utterances made whether regarding Deuba’s completion of hundred days honey-moon in office or his “snail pace” seen in sorting out the Maoists imbroglio, all hint that Koirala as the party chief too has a limit to bear Deuba as nation’s Prime Minister.
“The party has given full mandate to Deuba for arriving at a solution to the Maoists issue. However, the Prime Minister appears to be trembling”, said Koirala recently hinting at the “political stamina” of his nearest and dearest political rival.
At yet another point Koirala made this comment.
He says: ” Till some time back, the Maoists had upper hands. Now that the situation has changed. the hands of the government has gone up and hence the establishment must deal with the Maoists with stick in its hand”.
Somewhere near his hometown Koirala recently declared in front of his party men that “he would lead the partymen against the Maoists violence”. He also appealed his men to rally behind him in his bid to root out the menace of what he prefers to call “terrorism”‘.
Regarding the performance of Deuba in office for all along hundred days, the thespian leader possess no sympathy.
“I wouldn’t assess his hundred days in office. I leave it to you all to assess”, said Koirala in a mood that in no way could be portrayed as pleasant.
Just opposite is K.P.Bhattarai’s reading of Deuba’s first honeymoon days in government.
“Hundred days are not enough. I will give him full one year and then will comment”, said a clever Bhattarai. In essence, Bhattarai wished to hint Koirala that Deuba’s performances were far better that Koirala’s while being in government.
In the same vein, Deuba and Koirala sharply differ on count of the possibility of the formation of a “government” as wished by the Maoists.
Says Deuba: “If the Maoists wish to enter into the main political stream, a sort of “joint” or for that matter “an all party government” at the center could well be formed and that the constitution allowed to do so.
To recall, the Maoists have in their agenda the formation of “an interim government” to begin with should the talks succeed.
However, Koirala rejects Deuba theory and hints the other side that the party will in no way allow the latter to do so. To recall, the government negotiators too subscribe to Deuba theory to the utter dismay and displeasure of Koirala and his lobbyists. Unfortunately, one of Deuba’s unquestionable friend, K.P.Bhattarai too supports Koirala line. Bhattarai says that since the party is in majority in the parliament and hence it should enjoy a full term in office. Must have come as a penalty for Deuba.
Some analysts in congress quarters maintain that Deuba’s days in government were numbered.
“The talks are being unnecessary delayed. The Maoists have not stopped their violent activities even at time of the agreed upon cease-fire. The UML is simply annoyed with the Deuba set-up for its men are being reportedly killed by the insurgents. More so Koirala has already started picking up those men who feel that they have been sidelined at time of the cabinet expansion. Add to this the UML’s declaration that the government remains averse to the killings. All put together comes out a picture which in no way supported Deuba, politically speaking”, said a congressite who prefers to claim that he is a supporter of Koirala.
“What will happen if the UML out of frustration or by design begin supporting Koirala”‘? asked a Koirala loyalist to this scribe when the former was asked to give his opinion on whether he saw the possibility of the UML extending its clandestine support to Koirala.
“You can’t dismiss UML’s role in Nepali politics. Recall how the UML remained instrumental in dislodging Prime Minister Koirala from the chair. The UML option to play the same card remains perhaps open if the Maoists continue the killings of its cadres and the Deuba government fails to tame the Maoists threat”, added the same source.
The fact is that unlike the UML, the laymen too now question Deuba’s political acumen in bringing the insurgents to the main political stream. Neither Deuba has been able to curtail the Maoists violence nor he has succeeded in bringing them to the talks.
All these shortcomings and weaknesses seen in Deuba quarters at the moment will definitely benefit immensely the Koirala camp.
This means that the internal fight in the congress is on; the one to dislodge Deuba unceremoniously and the other on how to retain the seat.