Kathmandu: The leader of the UML, Madhav Kumar Nepal, is thinking the country’s politics in a different way, it seems.
That the UML now slightly differs with the strategy adopted by the commander of the ongoing movement, Shri Girija Prasad Koirala, becomes clear from the fresh decisions taken by the UML at its recently concluded meeting.
The UML, for example, has taken serious note of the present politics as it stands today and has in the process devised certain strategies that, the UML leaders hope, if brought into action might open the gates for a long awaited reconciliation in between the political parties and the constitutional monarch.
The party now believes that the King must listen to their pleas in order to bring out the country from the present crisis.
“Henceforth the UML will plead for the establishment of an all-party government for the sake of peace and democracy”, is what the UML has decided in its recently concluded cameral meeting.
The UML leaders hope that their newly arrived at decisions will provide the King a golden opportunity to join hands with the political parties and jointly work for bringing back the derailed system and the constitution to its original track.
The UML in its decision has gone extra miles, it appears. The party has apparently suspended its plea that its party leader Madhav Nepal be allowed to function as the nation’s prime minister as had been agreed in between the agitating parties prior to the convening of the present day agitation some five months back.
The party now maintains that it will console itself if the King agrees to form a government from among the political parties represented in the now dissolved parliament. This means that the would be government might not necessarily be headed by the UML leader Madhav Nepal. This would be new policy of the UML and the party will stick to its new formulations, say insiders of the UML.
Analysts say that the UML’s new policy overtures appear to have been guided by broad thinking of containing the threats and finding of a permanent solution to the issues and the problems that have of late been plaguing the nation.
Indeed, a grand departure from its previous stands.
However, analysts also suspect the UML recent moves. The UML policy has been announced at a time when president Koirala has declared bluntly that he would no more be interested in occupying the old-and-junk prime ministerial chair. If Koirala sticks to his words, then automatically the coveted chair goes to Madhav Nepal. The fact is that Madhav Nepal will be the only contender to that coveted chair for the leaders of the meager political parties neither could dare a claim to that chair nor will presumably be told to occupy the chair. This means that the chair which Madhav Nepal tried for long in the recent past but failed miserably is coming to him his way.
For the King also, the UML’s changed stance must have come as a surprise. For the King, the UML is now a modest and mild party which wishes the country’s issues sorted out amicably by forging an alliance in between the forces which repose trust in democracy and the system. IN effect this is what the King said so on his constitutional day message.
Nevertheless, what must not be forgotten here is that the UML has revised its stance only after the UML leader, Mr. Nepal, returned from his Delhi pilgrimage. Should this mean that the new strategy is not the UML’s brainchild but instead that of Delhi?
The UML now sees the ball in the King’s court. The party says that the King should exploit this golden opportunity and proceed in a manner that not only enhances his democratic credentials but also allows him to forge unity with the forces who have of late been up against him.
It is altogether a different matter as to how the King takes up the UML’s proposals.
The UML, a party in the ongoing agitation, has also come up with a new decision. The Deuba congress which till the other day remained as an untouchable political entity for the UML and its allies, is no more that now. At least for the UML, the Deuba congress has suddenly become a touchable one. However, the UML’s decision on the Deuba congress must have come as a blow to the congress-Girija.
Should this mean that the UML in doing so has hinted the Koirala congress that it would go its way come what may. Should this further mean that there has been a great rift in between the agitating parties on how to proceed with the agitation?
The key still lay with the King for initiating reconciliatory efforts, says the UML. The UML would wish to see whether the King acquires a reconciliatory posture or prefers to go alone and invite confrontation. “It is up to the King to chose one among the two options”, writes Pradip Gyanwali in Dristi weekly dated 18 November.