The issue of Congress unification has hit the debates since last few weeks, especially, after Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s proclamation from his home town that Nepali Congress will be unified by Dashain. He also proclaimed the generosity to give adequate room to all and even declared readiness to abandon Party Presidency. There is sufficient ground to doubt on ‘noble’ cause for Koirala’s call for unification. Primary question whirls around why is the octogenarian leader, who ever wanted to assume power and negated the decent voices, calling for immediate unification? His close aides doubt it is not just his noble wish to unite both the Congresses and make it the largest democratic force in the country, but has hidden intentions. Political thinker and Nepali Congress Democratic leader Pradip Giri also raised this concern and wrote on a daily that congress should be unified not to uphold Monarchy but to address people’s aspirations for peace and prosperity.
It has become evident that Koirala didn’t become Prime Minister alone in the support of popular uprising. He had also behind the scenes give and takes. Koirala seems to have been successful on convincing the King for ceremonial role and on return he assumed power. This has been reflected on repeated appeals for ceremonial Monarchy to appointing one of the closest Royal aide and strongest hands on suppressing popular movement to the post of Army Chief. Though he corrected his voice that his attitude was applicable till the constituent assembly polls and the people will decide the fate of it, he still wants his party to uphold the ceremonial monarchy. The government activities, especially regarding army and the Monarchy and Prime Minister Koirala’s Thursday’s meet with the King still exhibit that Palace is still a decisive force behind the curtain in Nepalese politics. Delays on implementing the interim constitution and one point repeated call for Maoist’s disarmament also create ground for doubt. Accessing the responses to his call for ceremonial Monarchy, he understood that it is not so easy and the people have already moved ahead. He also knew that a faction within his own party leadership and cadres favors Republicanism. For this, he needed a powerful support which could nothing be better than uniting two Congresses. He is well aware that there is another faction within both the Congresses which still favors Ceremonial Monarchy. A faction in the party thinks Koirala’s voice as divine and is in mood to follow whatever Koirala dictates. And Koirala is assured that this faction, if united, will be the most powerful support.
In a Television program, Nepali Congress leader Narahari Acharya said that all the party decisions in recent days have not been in favor of President Koirala. Party has made some decisions against Koirala’s expectation. Hence Koirala could not even be assured about his party. To the next hand, NC D has also not made clear stance regarding the status of Monarchy. It is also on the mood to wait and see. NC D President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s past shows that he is ready to do anything to assume power. He dissolved the House at midnight, declared himself as the Party President and resumed ‘post’ of Prime Minister with an illusion that regressive move has been corrected. He acted like a baby. He could not even analyze what was going to happen after half an hour. God bless him, he is still the President of the third largest Party in the parliament. And it seems that his call for respectable unification is just a bargaining tool.
Unfortunately, Koirala is not finding an appropriate successor from within the family and from the close aides. Ram Chandra Poudel to Narahari Acharya have opted for republicanism. Daughter Sujata and nephews have still not made considerable position in the party nor does his brother Sushil. This might have forced Koirala to look beyond for his successor. And to dictate anything, no one will be better then Deuba. Upon green signal from Koirala and also from the Palace, Deuba will agree to any conditions to assume power after Koirala. Hence, Koirala’s call for unification is not free from the doubts that it may be a plot against people’s aspirations for a Monarchy free Nepal. It won’t become a wonder if Deuba becomes the President of unified Congress in condition to support Monarchy by defeating republican faction supposed to be led by Congress General Secretary Ramchandra Poudel.
However, only Congress people can make a difference to this plot. And it is inevitable to do if the Congress wants to sustain as a democratic socialist party in the country. Unless it upholds Monarchy, it becomes the feudal party which will have no place in country’s politics in the future. Congress campaign for a republican Nepal led by central member Narahari Acharya could save the party from this plot. ##
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I’ve truly enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. In any case I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!
Why do we blame Girija only? I would rather question the ability and integirty of dumbs around him who get manipulated by that old man all the time. Why can’t they stand up and say “enough is enouhg.” SPA leaders lack guts. Look at MAKUNE – he changes statement every other day. MAKUNE is worse than Girija when it comes to morality and integrity.
kaji kaji, girija paji
As long as the Moaists have arms, no elections can be meaninful, and that is without considering the 100,000 or so party cadres, most of whom are not armed, but are very much feared in the villages. They will, no doubt, threaten people saying that if the Maoists lose in the CA elections, the civil war will continue, and this time, they will be targeted. I don’t know how this issue will be resolved. Apparently, it is the unarmed militias that are bigger obstacles to the peace process than the army itself in other places in the past. I am sure the UN has some ideas on dealing with this, or then, maybe not.
Arms management has been a tricky issue. maoists arms has been a big threat to democracy but again political parties themselves donot want maoists to surrender their arms completely. The Nepal Army is still Royal Nepalese army and we need some counter-army against this king’s army.
As we all know Palace is always under their dirty tricks to restore power and our own PM has again started to act a puppet. So monarchy issue should be resolved as soon as possible.
CA election is a long and complicated process and anti-democratic forces have chance and space to play their tricks.
So what I think is that we should have a referendum first to decide whether to keep or kick out monarchy. Until then arms of both sides should be kept under UN supervision.
After this issue is finalised, the maoists should be completely disarmed and then a fair CA election for a new nepal should be held.
Let us see what makes sense and what does not. Things are in limbo around Nepalese political horizon these days. The Maoists want to be part of the interim government while keeping thier arm forces. This cannot happen: one gorvernment and two set of armies. At least, I have not seen this anywhere in the world. The Maoists want to win the CA election by hook and/or crook and plan to take Nepal to one-party rule. I do not think they will accept anyhting short of that. If they lose CA, they might go back to jungle claiming the election was rigged. Therefore CA election will be very tricky. We are better off avoiding CA election and declaring multiparty republic NOW. Why do we need CA election? The King can be discharged honorably. That will be best for him. Or we can do the referendum on “yes” or “no” for ceremonial kingship. These things are beyond the level of Girija’s thinking horizon. We are better off negotiating now with the Maoists and coming with the multiparty constitution. That will put the Maoists in the odd position and we will know if they are really for the multiparty democracy.
There is something going on in the background. That same Girija who was once yelling about a “grand design” seems very much a part of one himself. On Thursday, apparently he met with the king, and on Friday with American Ambassador Moriarty. Will these leaders never learn the lesson? Ditto for Deuba.
Girija is a misfortune for nepali democracy.
he is “kukurko puchchar jun 12 barsha dhungrama rakhyo banga ko bangai”
he was, is and will always be a ‘kattar rajabadi’ as he himself is a chote raja in his party.
Sher bahadur Deuba is a political joker and dangerous prankster.
But the real fault is not in them but our political system.
There are good guys and bad guys everywhere.
But only in a fair and democratic system, bad guys are filtered out and good guys filtered in.
I don’t understand why nepali congress despite being the oldest and most reputed acts like girija and his clan pvt company.
Ram chandra poudel seems a humble guy but is not courageous enough to challenge girija.
Narahari Acharya is the one to raise a voice for republic Nepal and constituent assembly in NC.
He is great thinker and good orator and is also bold.
He gives beautiful dreams.
In his last interview he said- if NC too goes for republic nepal , it would be best for king to withdraw voluntarily.