Editorial
Eyes must necessarily turn towards taciturn Deuba. Sher Bahadur Deuba heads a government that is neither a minority government nor a majority. A loose confederation of leaders, Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) the more identifiable head of his Maoist Center, Upendra Yadav the judicially pronounced head of Samajbadi Party which has by injunction been splintered in number, the other splintered wing which has yet to withdraw the originally announced support for Deuba, Madhav Nepal who is not clear of his party and support status in Parliament. All contribute the numbers to Deuba’s government. What is for certain is that Comrade Prachanda would like to play the strongman behind the government and his call for a common minimum program was met officially by week’s ends the announcement of which has only been met by ridicule among a public that can merely watch aghast at the extent of systemic and constitutional tampering. The fact, moreover, that Deuba has not been able to extend his cabinet numbers and the appointment of a businessman to head the crucial health sector has raised shackles in that very community. Yes, the new prime minister is beleaguered at the very outset and he must be wondering whether all this is by design.
This is because of his appointment by judicial decree no doubt since the injunction allowed him the advantage of office before he mustered the numbers. The judicial tag notwithstanding, Deuba is currently embroiled within his own party in the task of conducting illusive in-party polls for leadership where he is to contend. Whether he will use his new government office to advantage him in the coming contest, when and if it takes place that is, will be what his detractors will clearly watch. For all one know, the natural tendency to take advantage of government may be impeded by opponents within his own party reflecting on his performance in government. On the other hand, it is the Nepali Congress workers that are more than aware of the poor performance of the party at the polls. Deuba is blamed for this as also like the fact that the party has deviated from what is deemed to be B.P. Koirala’s course. The public has been made much aware of the wary cadre position of Nepal’s Hindu identity and, for some, also, the monarchy. Indeed, very India-conscious since inception, Deuba is challenged from within this convention. After all, as has very pointedly been pronounced, Deuba’s premiership is to protect the constitution.
Deuba the democrat is also aware of the growing opposition to the constitution from the streets. Pressures within his party notwithstanding, the fact that rank and file are joining the streets must surely threaten a government that faces not just internal elections but also local and national ones. This government is not designed to perform. It is designed to preserve the status quo until the coming elections. In this sense, it is an improvement (for some, that is) over K.P.Oli’s government since Oli evidently lost the trust of the real powers that be. Whether Deuba will command that trust by the time of elections is what will determine his success. The overall scepticism that Deuba will perform, in part generated by assessments of his previous tenure, adds to the current climes of flux generating a pall of gloom nationwide. This includes the environs in his own party adds to the current confusion.
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