By Shashi P.B.B. Malla
The midnight deal of the CPN-Unified Marxists Leninists (UML) and the Nepali Congress (NC) to form a government is the beginning of the end of coalition politics in the Himalayan Republic.
It is also the beginning of the final journey of the CPN-Maoist Centre into the political wilderness.
In many ways it also heralds the start of the disintegration of the purely Marxist-Leninist and Democratic Socialist/Social Democratic ideologies in the Nepali political system.
It signals the death-throes of people’s democracy or Loktantra;
And the non-functioning of parliamentary democracy of the Westminster model, federalism, republicanism and secularism.
It has become crystal clear that we now have to start from scratch. However, there is – as yet – no savior on the horizon, nor patriotic forces willing and able to be the vanguard of change.
The truly regressive forces under the leadership of septuagenarians cannot be expected to act as agents of change and progress.
They started out being very badly educated, did not learn much on the job, had no uplifting experience and picked up many bad habits on the way – like lining their pockets to an excessive extent, and putting self and party above the nation.
To a great extent, H.M. King Mahendra was an exception to the rule. He did not enjoy the privilege of formal education, but he was an autodidact and keen observer of society and domestic and regional developments of the day.
The good-for-nothing politicians like Jhalanath Khanal, Madhav Kumar Nepal and Dr. Baburam Bhattarai have more or less outed themselves from the power centre of Nepali politics. And now Pushpa Kamal Dahal, aka ‘Prachanda’ is now going to join their hallowed ranks.
The sooner the septuagenarians Sher Bahadur Deuba and K.P. Sharma Oli join the gelded Nepali politicians, the better.
If we expect great things from their nascent partnership/cooperation/collaboration/cohabitation, then we will only be much disappointed.
Oli only has a big mouth and promises us castles in the air.
Re: Oli’s new cabinet
He is off to a bad start because of the optics:
- The gender disparity is gross (only two women out of 22 ministers).
- Arzu Rana Deuba has the important portfolio of foreign affairs, but because of her background and lack of specialized experience, she will have an uphill task.
And, of course, both Oli and Deuba have first to cater to their friends, relatives and hangers-on.
But we can be grateful that because of the age factor and other complexities, we will not be subjected to dynastic party rule as in neighbouring Bharat.
And perhaps a deus ex machine will help us rid ourselves of our festering wounds!
What the great Bard wrote in another context, applies fully to Oli:
“…a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.”
The writer can be reached at: shashipbmalla@hotmail.com
Login to add a comment