Kathmandu: As the people refrain from showing any interest in opposition to King Gyanendra’s October move the stance becomes increasingly hard-line with aim to target the monarchy boxing themselves further into the constitutional quagmire from which extrication with compromises would be difficult.

This is very much reflected in P.M Surya Bahadur Thapa’s continuing failure to involve the agitating parties in his cabinet despite this soft-gloved approach in handling the agitation on the streets. The official media including Television and Radio continue to cover party activities and strict instructions have been given government not to derogate their presence regardless of the minimality of their impact. Indeed, if any thing, the impression is of direction lost in the government standpoints. No movement here and no movement in the Maoist front.

If any thing, belligerence is indicated with the Maoists. For the first time after the cease-fire, the army has been fired upon resulting in grave injuries and the official media has taken an aggressive posture by covering incidence of violations by the Maoists.

No movement in the gestures for talks with the agitators and belligerence with the Maoists become indication of a malaise that is however, not reflected in activities of the Thapa cabinet aimed at strengthening organizational potentials in the Thapa faction of the RPP.

Even here these activities have only widened the fraction in that party. The mainstream RPP was absent en masse at the much-covered party gala felicitating Thapa’s uplift to government. Predictably perhaps Thapa has gone about playing chess moves in the government machinery. Compared to Lokendra Bahadur Chand, Thapa shows movement here. The administrative machinery now looks towards Thapa. Surely, but for what becomes the million dollar question. Meanwhile, however, it is clear that, with no activity towards organized response against both the agitating parties and the Maoists, politics ands its reflection in the media appears virtually the monopoly of the opposition. The reflection of this on the Monarchy is damaging surely. With the pitch taking an anti monarchial turn, the lack of response is being watched askance by the bulk people at large whose expectations had heightened after the October move.