By Our Reporter
Prime Minister Sher Bhadur Deuba, who looked like a ‘Sher’ (lion) when he became the Prime Minister for the second time in July after the Supreme Court reinstated the House stating that what the President did to prevent him from becoming the Prime Minister was unconstitutional, now looks weak.
Two months after assuming high office, he has become weak in both the party and government fronts. While many of the leaders close to him have left his faction in the party, he has been unable to expand the cabinet because of the non-cooperation of the partners in the ruling parties.
Bimalendra Nidhi, a long-time ‘yes man’ of Deuba, has not only left him but also challenged Deuba’s candidacy to the post of party president by announcing his candidacy and setting up a separate contact office in Kathmandu. Nidhi has reiterated that he would contest the election of the party chief and Deuba should support him.
Bishwa Prakash Sharma, the spokesperson of the party, has also announced his candidacy for the post of party general secretary from Nidhi camp. Sharma, who defended Deuba for four years after the NC lost elections in 2017, is likely to leave Deuba if the latter does not back the former’s candidacy. Likewise, Gopal Man Shrestha, Deuba’s next aide, has also announced his candidacy for the party chief against Deuba.
Moreover, Deuba has miserably failed to expand the Cabinet even two months after its formation, reportedly because of the non-cooperation of JSP-N chair Upendra Yadav, who wants the Cabinet to be expanded only after withdrawing the ordinance which allowed division in the party. But Madahv Kumar Nepal wants continuity of the ordinance until the court verdict on the writ petition registered by the UML against speaker Agni Sapkota and the Election Commission.
Speaker Sapkota was reluctant to take action against the 14 MPs following the law related to the political parties.
And Deuba is unable to take any bold decision as he fears that his government may fall in the minority if the alliance partners get angry.
UML refloats the idea age bar in active politics
The CPN-UML that has introduced the age limit of 70 years in active politics in its 9th general convention and lifted it after KP Oli became the Prime Minister in 2018, has again revived the debate on the plan.
The CPN-UML in its central committee meeting proposed to retain the age limit of 70 years for participation in the party’s 10th general convention slated for November this year.
If the rule comes into effect, the upcoming convention will be the last one for many leaders of the party. From IswharPokharel to BishnuPaudel and even SubasNembang will cross the age bar in less than five years, which means they would not be able to reach the leadership if they fail to get elected in the 10th convention.
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