By a staff reporter

In the grim struggle for power within the Nepali Congress,  the first casualty has been Minister for Water Resources and Housing and Physical Planning Khum Bahadur Khadka. In a rare and hasty move, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala “sacked” Minister Khadka Tuesday afternoon.

Khadka was relieved of his post on Tuesday – a move apparently made by Koirala to stave off any opposition against him which was brewing for some time.

A source close to Minister Khadka told The Independent that the sacked minister will speak in the House of Representatives today (Wednesday). He will strongly challenge Koirala’s decision and maybe even leadership, he warned.

The flicker of unrest had started when a state minister Mohammad Aftab Alam was forced to resign by Koirala. Alam is considered close to Khadka.

However, in spite of Khadka having lost his ministerial berth for now, it is still unclear which side the balance will tilt, when the air of this volatile political battle clears up. For now, there were hushed whispers that a no confidence motion may be registered against Prime Minister Koirala. However, the Prime Minister could stave off this threat also by initiating a huge reshuffle and taking in Khadka as well as some others as ministers. It is also said that several of Koirala’s close supporters, such as Tarini Dutt Chataut and J.P. Anand are also expected to be dropped to appease the opposition within the party.

There were indications that things were not right within the government right from the day when Prime Minister Koirala returned from his India visit. No sooner than he returned from the India visit Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala had to fight fire from within the party.

With several ministers, including Minister Khadka, and dozens of MPs holding a meeting at the official residence of the Prime Minister on Monday morning, it was evident that something would definitely happen.

On Monday, about two dozen MPs led by Khadka had gone to the Prime Minister’s residence at Baluwatar to demand that Koirala step down from one of the two top posts he is holding and for handing over the party presidency to the younger generation. There also reports that Khadka and others were also contemplating of bringing in a no-confidence motion against Koirala in the party’s parliamentary committee.

But sources said Koirala rejected the demand and challenged them to try to remove him from the government through a no-confidence motion or from the party at the party’s general convention. The party’s general convention is scheduled for November.

However, critics are questioning Koirala’s wisdom in outrightly sacking such a man like Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka. “This quick decision will not do him any good,” an observer said. He added that Khadka was not one man alone, “he has many MPs behind him”.

Koirala is probably facing the toughest challenge to his leadership in the government since he took over about four months ago.

Discontent was brewing within the Nepali Congress over Koirala’s leadership both in the government and the party. However, it seemed to have flared after state minister Mohammad Aftab Alam resigned under Koirala’s instruction just before he left for India. Alam is a close supporter of Khadka, and the resignation was taken by Khadka’s supporters as a give-in to the UML.

The UML had demanded Alam’s ouster from the government alleging him of kidnapping UML supporters in his home district Rautahat.

While Koirala supporters say the whole move was made by Khadka only because he was not given the charge of the Home Ministry but opponents of Koirala say the Prime Minister has failed on the very objectives of controlling corruption, good governance and solving the Maoist problem – on the basis of which he had wrested power from Bhattarai four months ago.

Khadka’s discontent and the present rebellion may be understandable. Khadka had played a pivotal role in electing Koirala as the party’s leader in the parliament on the condition that he be made deputy prime minister and home minister. But the promise was not fulfilled.

Now, with Khadka being kicked out, the struggle for power within the Nepali Congress will be fierce.

With so many MPs and even party workers disenchanted with Koirala, it seem Koirala is slowly losing his grip and ground in the Nepali Congress. The present struggle for power could mean that the helm of power goes to the second generation leaders of the Nepali Congress earlier than expected.