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VOL. 03, NO. 11, Oct. 30 2009 (Kartik 13, 2066)
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Wranglings Within
The future political course in Nepal will be determined by the intra-party feud among major political parties as much by external factors
By Bhagirath Yogi with Saroj Dahal
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| Khanal(Left) Oli: Temporary Cease- fire |
So, where would the country’s premier meet his own party’s senior leaders? At his own official residence or at his party office? Interestingly, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal chose to meet chairman of his own party, CPN (UML), Jhal Nath Khanal and another senior leader K P Sharma Oli at Hotel Soaltee on October 21 over tea. The meeting was organised by some youth leaders of the UML who were worried to see widening rift within the party that is leading the coalition government.
Oli followed up by organising a dinner at his residence at Balkot, Bhaktapur, inviting premier Nepal, his arch-rival, party chairman Khanal, UML ministers and other senior leaders. The ‘dinner’ was seen as part of efforts to growing rivalry between Oli and Khanal since the party’s ninth general convention in Butwal in February this year.
The internal dissension within the UML has reached to such a level that two rival committees are active in districts like Dhanusha and Kathmandu. Each faction is said to enjoy the blessings of either Oli or Khanal. Those supporting Oli blame Khanal of trying to push the party on the lap of the Maoists. Supporters of Khanal strike back saying that Oli has failed to reconcile his defeat in the party’s general convention for the post of party’s top leadership. “The row within the UML is related to personality, rather than policy,” said Gokarna Bista, a central committee member of the CPN (UML). Added Yogesh Bhattarai, another UML leader, “It’s but natural for party chairman Khanal—who is elected democratically both as party chairman and parliamentary party leader-- to be unhappy to see that the party chose Madhav Kumar Nepal – who had lost elections from two different constituencies-- as the prime ministerial candidate.” Oli is said to have played a major role in promoting Mr Nepal as a prime ministerial candidate.
Though some UML leaders like Bamdev Gautam are said to be close to the Maoists, others insist that intra-party feud within their party will not pose any immediate threat towards the future of the coalition government. “I don’t see any threat to the government from our own party,” said Bishnu Poudel, Secretary of the CPN (UML).
Another coalition partner, Nepali Congress, is also passing through an intense intra-party feud in the wake of promotion of Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala to the post of Deputy Prime Minister. “The decision was taken without the consent of the party’s central committee. The forthcoming meeting of the NC central committee may even decide to recall Sujata from the cabinet,” said Dr Narayan Khadka, a central committee member of the NC.
Congress heavy-weights like acting president of the NC, Sushil Koirala, NC parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Poudel expressed unhappiness over party president and former premier G P Koirala’s decision to promote his daughter within the party as well as in the government. But analysts say the party is least likely to take any disciplinary action against Sujata by publicly defying the NC patriarch. Poudel and Sushil Koirala may even part ways in the run up to the party’s forthcoming ‘mahasamiti’ meeting, sources said.
NC leader, Khadka, too, dismisses speculation that intra-party wrangling within the Nepali Congress may post threat to the future of the coalition. “Though we won’t accept Sujata as the DPM, there is no question of going against this government,” he said.
The largest party in the 601-member Constituent Assembly, Unified CPN (Maoist) too is not above petty politics within its top echelon. The party is said to be divided over the option of launching a fresh struggle of continuing parleys with other parties to find a way out to the on-going impasse. Devendra Poudel “Sunil,” politburo member of the Maoist, however, claimed that there is no differences within his party over the issue of launching a fresh agitation if their demands are not met.
The Maoists have now demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and say they are ready to lead the new coalition. It is, however, not clear who will lead the coalition if such an opportunity arises. Sources say party ideologue, Mohan Baidya ‘Kiran’ now wants Prachanda to be the next premier so that he could fight for the post of the party’s chairman.
As internal permutations and combinations are going on within major political parties, it has become quite difficult to predict what course the country’s polity will take.
