Nepal Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanals decision to expand the council of ministers by including members from his own party,the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML),is a clear indication that the radical alliance that came to power two months ago is facing a major crisis. The Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists (UCPN-M),angry with the prime minister for refusing to give it the home portfolio,had decided not to propose new names for inclusion in the cabinet. Khanal finally administered the oath of office and secrecy to 13 members,all belonging to the CPN-UML,on April 13,even as he was being dubbed as an indecisive PM.
While the alliance between Khanal and the UCPN-M has suffered a setback,the prime minister has also been accused of choosing ministers from his party without consulting its senior leaders. To add to the troubles,the chief of the partys publicity cell,Pradip Gyawali,has revealed that the new MoS for finance,Lharkyal Sherpa,is a Free Tibet activist a fact that could provoke China,which has taken eager interest in the politics of Nepal. Sherpas choice might give the UCPN-M,which dominates the ruling alliance,an opportunity to hit out at the CPN-UML for having gone against the sensitive interest of the northern neighbour,much against the assurances given by the government of Nepal to China.
The deteriorating law and order situation in the capital Kathmandu is not helping Khanal. Within minutes of being designated as a minister with cabinet rank,Gokarna Bista was assaulted by unknown criminals. He suffered multiple injuries on his head and shoulder.
Khanal,who also holds the home portfolio,has said that all his energies are directed at completing the drafting of the constitution by May 28,the new deadline,but no one is accepting it as an excuse for the state of law and order. Unpopular and ineffective,Khanal faces the prospect of the UCPN-M asking him to step down and supporting Prachanda,in deference to the understanding in writing reached on February 3 that the duo would head the government on a rotational basis.
Khanal has,however,been warned by his party not to succumb to Maoist pressures. But the only way he can continue in power is by appeasing the Maoists who give him the requisite numerical strength in the House.
The PM knows that pro-democracy parties,which are opposed to the emergence of a radical left alliance and its subsequent control of the government,are unlikely to come together to dislodge his government. So his tactic at the moment is to keep the Maoists on the right side and fix a fresh deadline for the writing of the constitution. That has,however,triggered a fear in democratic forces.
The radical left alliance is,meanwhile,ganging up against President Ram Baran Yadav,alleging that he is out to exercise power himself by bringing the Nepali Congress,Madhesh-based parties and the Nepal army together under an anti-left umbrella.
At the same time,former king Gyanendra seems to have made a move forward,asking parties to shun the politics of exclusion that they pursued four years ago. The message he gave to them was that the monarchy in one form or the other would be required for peace and political stability in the country,and that the radical slogan that had led to fragmentation of politics would not yield the desired results.
In a message given on the eve of the Nepali New Year on April 14 and during his interaction with mediapersons a week ago,he said the monarchy was not ousted by the Nepali people,who alone have the right to decide on the issue. He said political parties have proved a bigger failure than the monarchy since they have been unable to complete the peace process and deliver the constitution in over four years.
Some others who support the former king have gone a step further and claimed that neither peace nor a constitution acceptable to the people is possible without democratic and nationalist forces coming together. Otherwise,they all will be finished by radical left groups.
None of the political parties has come forward to challenge Gyanendras statement. While the antagonists and victims of the radical left alliance are looking for an effective platform to counter it,one is not sure if the fear factor alone can unite democratic,nationalist and traditional forces.
The countdown has begun for Khanal as the leader of the government. While no one knows the nature of the political alternative that will emerge,hardly anyone will shed tears on the demise of the current leadership which has earned a reputation for corruption and inefficiency in so little time.
yubaraj.ghimire@expressindia.com
