Factors behind Koirala’s unification appeal

March 3, 2004
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Kathmandu: The Nepali Congress President, Girija Prasad Koirala, has become flexible enough to even invite his declared detractor, Sher Bahadur Deuba, to join the mainstream Congress.

In effect, Koirala through a statement made the other day has appealed all those congressmen who have housed themselves in the Congress-D to come back and join his hands in his ongoing fight against regression.

The gist is that a frustrated but yet energetic Koirala prefers to fight the movement against regression with full force.

It is an altogether a different matter on how the rank and file of the Congress-D will take Koirala’s fervent appeal for unification.

Koirala’s equally competent counterpart in the congress-D, Sher Bahadur Deuba, has point blank said that he would not heed to Koirala’s appeal on the formers’ terms and conditions.

Deuba’s contention has been that his party will not act in haste simply because Koirala has made the appeal. His high placed members in the central committee opine that the idea of unification is not that bad, but then yet one has to see several aspects prior to jumping to any hurried conclusion. In saying so, Deuba’s men wish to send signals to Koirala that they will not act as per the whims of Koirala.

Koirala’s clarion call for a sort of reunification bid has even surprised personalities like Sushil Koirala, Govinda Raj Joshi and many others who are considered to be the members of Koirala’s kitchen. They are taken aback and had not expected that their president would push his idea on unification.

Sushil and Mr. Joshi have reasons to be afraid of this Koirala decision which would have, in their own calculation, immense effect on their “growing image” in the congress hierarchy. Naturally, if the unification call takes a formal shape would mean cutting down the size of Sushil and Mr. Joshi and others in the party who have been enjoying high-profile image in the party.

Thus it becomes natural for those in the Koirala congress to oppose the very idea of unification as demanded by Koirala. The fact is that Sushil Koirala has become nervous to the extent that he preferred not to speak a word on his half-brother’s fresh decision. Mr. Joshi and his like minded colleagues are trembling with fear as to what would happen to their status if the unification takes a shape, sooner or later.

Nevertheless, Koirala has pushed his ideas and the other camp is currently analysing the pros and cons of an unification.

However, analysts wish to interpret Koirala’s call for unification differently.

According to analysts, firstly, Koirala made the appeal for the unification, as it was his political compulsion now. Secondly, Koirala apparently felt that if Deuba were left in the cold for long might strengthen the hands of Madhav Nepal and his party which if took shape might damage the prospects of the NC in the existing Nepali politics and at the elections, if at all it were conducted. Koirala in effect appears to have made this decision to keep the UML, a strong and united party of the communists compared to his own, at bay which will distance Deuba from the UML. To recall, Madhav Nepal and Deuba are on record to have hinted that any one among the two if nominated for the post of the prime minister would be a welcome stance for each other. This meant that Mr. Nepal would not even mind if the monarch invited Deuba for the executive post and vice versa. This possibility is sufficient for Koirala to suspect the very credentials of both Deuba and Mr. Nepal.

Thirdly, Koirala more or less concluded that the monarch and his prime minister will not settle for less that holding the elections by the end of this year come what may. This meant that if not united prior to going to the polls migh prove disaster to his party. This also meant to allow the UML to go in for a sweeping victory at the polls.

Fourthly, only recently his political Guru from India, Chandra Shekhar “instructed” Koirala to patch up his differences with Deuba and fight the battle unitedly. Koirala apparently got the point and appears to have abided by the “foreign” advice and hence the statement for unification efforts.

Fifthly, as a democrat Koirala could go against holding of the elections surfacially but can’t afford to reject the challenge of the polls.

All these factors put together appear to have guided Koirala to push the unification card. However, how his own partymen take the unification bid and how his rivals in the other camp receive Koirala appeal will have to be watched.

Be that as it may, the UML appears to have taken Koirala’s bid for unification in suspect. The UML has reasons to be unhappy with this new political overture for it was Koirala until recently who rejected Deuba’s party’s inclusion in the five party coalitions against regression. How come so suddenly Koirala developed a sort of love for Deuba is a matter that demands serious attention, say insiders of the UML.