Earlier, I have written that the source of country’s political instability originates, not from the eccentricities of RSP honchos or even cantankerous communists or rajabadis working behind the veil, but from conundrum in the Nepali Congress (NC) Party. Recently, belated court verdict, have favoured Thapa-led NC central committee but his difficult days are not over. Even Deuba-led Congress is saying the ball is in his court now. Meanwhile, Thapa has called for party unity. Mr Purna Bahadur Khadka, the acting president, now reduced to ex-acting president, is planning for a strategy after the court verdict. But I say, what options left, after having received half a dozen goals in the first half, with a captain of a football team in the second half? May be to play defensive to control further damages.
Justice delayed, denied and complicated
The court verdict should have been served before the elections, not after. It shamelessly speaks elections legitimizing Thapa-led Congress. It is so difficult to read the minds of the people in the judiciary. The justice delayed is not only denied, it also get complicated.
Thapa calling for party unity or his opponents throwing the ball into his court is not going to solve the problem of deeper divide that now exist within NC. Formally or informally, the party is divided into two factions. No faction is risking to take a blame for splitting the party. Thapa’s chutzpah is almost like Gen-Z movement within Nepali Congress Party - angry youngsters ousting the senile, outdated oldsters. I have labeled this as an administrative coup within NC. One can clearly read the dividing line here. If Deuba-led NC is closer with Oli then Thapa-led NC has already declared its support to the RSP government.
Without some dramatic changes in external political situation, NC unity is near impossible. Remember that the arrival of the Maoists in mid 2000s, united an already divided NC - between Girija-led Deuba-led factions. Without external pushing or compelling forces, unity within NC is near impossible. The arrival of Gen-Z and RSP coming into power has made it clear the division within the NC. In fact, the clevage or the rift can be observed with all political forces. CPN-UML is facing deep leadership crisis, possibly, this may lead to a split similar to NC. Post Gen-Z, the Maoists forces ceased to exist. What we have now is Nepali Communist Party (NCP) - an hotch-potch, make-shift electoral alliance of communists that are not CPN-UML. Eventually, this is going to split, that is for sure. Already, Nepali political rumor market is washed with speculation of unity between CPN and UML after a meeting between Comrade Prachanda and Oli. The other political movements like madhesbadi, janajati, tharuhat and even rajabadi are now been reduced to backstage activities, if not totally obscured.
In the land of cuckoos
If anybody thinking arrival of RSP is going to give the country, at least, some degree of political stability for five years or delivery of good governance and anti-corruption, or Nepal having high economic growth and prosperity, I would say, he or she is, basically, living in the land of cuckoos. We do have people basking in the temporal urinal warmth (comfortable at start but ends with a cold, smelly shameful damp bed) - near decimation of the communists forces, having a majority government within the present electoral framework, arrival of young, fresh, energetic faces into politics, farewell to old, senile, outdated politics etc. The very first session of the parliament gave a feeling of rowdy, first day classroom situation during a new college intake. One can see pompousness in attire, hair-styles, show off of flashy cars and cat-walks. I ask myself: Are we into new-age politics? I am bit worried what happens when every MPs start attending sessions with dark black shades? During Covid crisis, we all were accustomed to wearing face-masks. The Financial Times, I suppose, carried a sartorial piece differentiating between a burglar and a gentleman.
As political analysts, Mr C. K. Lal, recently, noted that the beginning gives an impression of someone doing something in haste before vacating the seat for somebody. I suppose, the government is not even sure of its five-year tenure granted by the sovereign people of Nepal. One can already read a tell-tale sign of possible rift between two RSP celebrities - its president and its senior leader. The celebrities do come into limelight within a short period of time but they don’t last long. That is the law of the nature. All abrupt beginnings end equally abruptly. Just watch my words.
What is more to watch is the domination by khas-arya bahun chhetris in the parliament, out of 182 RSP MPs, nearly 50 MPs have earlier background with mainstream political parties; majority them from NC. Hoarding of golds by the Cabinet members in their property declaration defies the agenda of good governance and controlling corruption. Younger the age, more corrupt you are. This is the general findings of studies on corruption and age. Lack of patience, tempt with quick results, instant gratification - all transpire and conspire corruption. In my next write up, I will take this issue.
