By P.R. Pradhan
When the new government is going to form, it is not easy to presume as the leaders of the big parties are in a race to grab power. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba wants to continue as the PM for the next tenure. The Nepali Congress, being the largest party in parliament, has decided to keep the PM’s post and also the post of the ceremonial president. On the other hand, Maoist Center chair Pushpakamal Dahal, although, his party is the third largest in parliament, has wished to become the prime minister once again.
Madhav Nepal, chair, Unified Socialist Party, also wants to become the PM even if it is just for one year. Nepal, whose party has not even been recognized as the national party, wants to enjoy the PM’s post for one year by allowing Deuba and Prachanda to become the PM for two years each. Moreover, Nepal has claimed the President’s post as well.
UML, the second largest party in parliament, believes that it will be a big loss for the party if it will remain aloof from power. The party will not get a share in many posts including the head of the state if it will not join the government. Therefore, UML is trying its best to break the present ruling alliance and lead another alliance. The party has kept all options open to break the present alliance and form another alliance under its leadership.
Formation of the government for what?:
Those leaders in the race for the prime minister and the president have not spoken a single word about why they wished to go to power. They don’t have any agenda for contributing to the nation and the people. Their one-point agenda is to enjoy the power of either becoming the president or the prime minister. They are even running behind the foreign powers to get their blessings. When they request the foreign power for empowering them, surely, they will have to serve the foreign powers once they will be rewarded.
Bhagbanda politics:
Although President Bidya Devi Bhandari has asked the political parties to form the government within a week by showing the necessary majority, the leaders in the ruling coalition are bargaining for important posts including the president, vice president, speaker, deputy speaker, province chiefs, chief ministers and ministerial share in the provincial governments, among others. When the leaders are busy holding meetings with each other, it is believed, unless a final power-sharing deal the formation of a new government is unlikely.
There is no word like “sacrifice” for the nation in “loktantra”. Otherwise, when a single party didn’t get a majority, all the parties should have allowed the largest party to run a minority government. Unfortunately, the third largest party is claiming the prime ministerial post and the party which has not been recognized as the national party is claiming the president’s post.
Prachanda has formally asked PM Deuba to support him for the PM. Deuba, who is also interested to continue as the PM, is saying that it would be natural to lead the new coalition government by the largest party.
Meanwhile, to put pressure on Deuba, Prachanda has said that his party may join hands with the UML if Deuba denies giving him premiership for the first half term of parliament i.e. two and a half years.
Prachanda’s men including Dev Gurung are frequently meeting with K.P. Sharma Oli.
UML’s K.P. Sharma Oli has also sent his party leaders to meet Prachanda and hold talks with the Maoist leaders.
Interestingly, Deuba and Oli are also in contact in connection with the formation of a coalition government between NC and UML.
UML chair K.P. Sharma Oli is equally playing his strategies with NC and also Maoist Center. If NC and UML will join hands, both parties can form a strong government. On the other hand, if UML joins hands with Maoist Center, it needs support from some other small parties.
Foreign powers have also become active. India and the West want the continuation of the present alliance.
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