Kathmandu: So much is being written of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s hundred days in office that the writings themselves reflect eroding support from particularly the congress media. It is this that is significant. Opposition to Deuba from partisan media would be expected of the UML and the ML papers given that the prolonged talks with the Maoists have been at the cost of these left parties. The surfacing of the Maoists in course of the talks have allowed them major gains in the overt recruitment of the grassroots of the “establishment” Left. It is no surprising therefore that the UML leadership now willing to acknowledge publicly that the Maoists are terrorists.
The ML on the other hand demand quick resolutions of the talks but retain their preference for an all party government that will bring the necessary cohesion in order to accommodate the Maoists. ML workers too are the targets of Maoists organizations but they fall less victims as reports tend to show. There is meaning then when Prime Minister Deuba does not root out the possibility of an all party government.
Equally meaningful is the unhesitating denial by Deuba’s party chief and rival Girija Prasad Koirala of the need for such all-party government. Even Deuba mentor Krishna Prasad Bhattarai does not want such government. The congress majority in parliament, to them, should be used to the full. In this sense, then, it appears that standpoints are hardening within the congress. Deuba’s opposition there is now ready to pounce upon his alleged inaction. Having exhausted his accommodative card in the JUMBO cabinet reshuffle his antagonists are now aligned to shift support. It is this that provokes them to term Deuba’s hundred days in office a ”dismal failure”.
Key to this allegation is the virtual absence of returns from the talks with the Maoists. Growing public disenchantment at the talks must be cashed in upon. Deuba I currently being portrayed as a weak and indecisive prime minister who is playing into the hands of the Maoists. Adding to this desperation is the strong tirade from the Left parties against both Deuba and the Maoists which, coupled with the growing threat from the Girija lobby, is likely to press Deuba hard. Whether he will last until the winter session is something currently being talked of.
Obviously, it is the Maoists talks that will be watched. The collapse of the law and order situation has reached new heights on account of the indecision related to the government approach to the Maoists. The holiday season has added to the virtual standstill of the government offices. The active steps that the Deuba cabinet instituted in its initial days regarding land reforms, scheduled castes and Kamaiya liberation has appeared incomplete and contributes to the confusion. Deuba’s hundred days has added to the chaos rather than control it. On the overall, the country is poised for more turmoil. It will perhaps take the conclusion of the festival days to demonstrate.