Kathmandu: A stubborn Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala remains undeterred.
He will not resign is the message emanating from Baluatar Palace quarters.
The fact is that even the international community subtly hints that fifty percent of the Nepalese problems will be solved including the Maoists issue the moment Koirala resigns. Koirala has apparently analyzed this situation himself. However, the fear of being penalized by the next government under pressure from the Opposition for so many irregularities inclusive of the Lauda air deal, Prime Minister Koirala is just lingering his days in the office.
The Opposition UML too remains determined to continue actions till Koirala yields. Fortunately enough, in UML’s bid for the summary ouster of Koirala, the Koirala detractors in the ruling party itself have decided to register a vote of no confidence against their own Prime Minister at the parliamentary party. Obviously they claim their majority in the party which generally decides the next Prime Minister.
Most important for Koirala is that his declared detractors, read the Bhattarai-Deuba-Khadka troika- have sent signals to Baluatar palace suggesting Prime Minister Koirala to tender his resignation or else get himself prepared to face the no confidence move by Thursday afternoon.
Sources close to Koirala say that the Prime Minister might give a pleasant surprise to the nation by offering his voluntary resignation on Wednesday afternoon. Rumors have it that Koirala might do so from the rostrum of the parliament. (If pushed to the wall further, instead of resigning he might throw the nation to the polls. Resignation or declaration of the polls both can’t be ruled out at this critical juncture).
However, sources in the rival camp opine that since Koirala is a different stuff and hence to expect his resignation that too voluntarily will be an exercise close to daydreaming.
The fact is that save a few chums like Bastola and Acharya, other close friends of Koirala of the good-old-days have deserted him differing with his working styles. Bastola and Acharya still continue with Koirala because they were close relatives or else the latter would have already become a lone crusader in the Nepalese political landscape.
Prime Minister Koirala got a serious jolt Sunday afternoon when he drove to Bhattarai’s house and sought his support in the face of the military deployment in Rolpa. Bhattarai in his response to Koirala’s request said that what was the guarantee the military succeeded in its mission. He also asked what if the military unfortunately failed. Bhattarai also made it known to Koirala that military was not the answer to the Maoists issue. Indirectly he hinted that dialogues must prevail.
An annoyed Koirala came back to his quarters and tried to seduce Khum Bahadur Khadka-an ace man in the congress after Deuba. Koirala offered him lucrative posts and to some of his close friends. A clever Khadka denied the offer for he knew that a wise man should never put his bet on a sinking horse at the racecourse.
Insiders of the congress say that Koirala got nervous at the sudden resignation of Ram Chandra Poudel. However, he concluded that Khum Bahadur Khadka could rescue him from the current stalemate. Khadka denied summarily but instead suggested him to resign. Later Bhattarai snubbed him.
All put together, if Koirala resigns within a day or two out of sheer frustration then it would not be any big wonder.
But, say Koirala detractors, never trust Koirala moves.
Nevertheless, what is for sure is that the UML has already established close links with the troika in the congress for Koirala’s ouster.