By Our Reporter

The dramatic alliance between the CPN (Maoist Centre) and the CPN (UML) at the last moment of government formation has come as a big shock for the CPN (unified Socialist) led by Madhav Kumar Nepal.  

Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda had fueled to break the CPN-UML and form the CPN (US) about two years ago, and the Maoist Centre and the CPN (US) were preparing to unify their parties. But when Prachanda left the alliance with the Nepali Congress and the CPN (US) and joined hands with the CPN (UML) to form the new government, Madhav Kumar Nepal-led party has been left in a difficult position.  

Of course, the CPN (UML) and the Maoist Centre got separated after the then Prime Minister dissolved the House of Representatives twice, which Dahal and even Nepal opposed terming as a regressive move. The enmity between Oli and Nepal as well as Dahal grew leading to a formal division in the UML.

Nepal had broken the party taking 23 of the UML lawmakers, and formed the CPN (Unified Socialist). Its lawmakers were in the government for 17 months, and 10 of the lawmakers have been reelected in the House. But the party failed to garner 3 per cent of votes and could not become a national party. Still, it was preparing to be a part of the government and strengthen its organizational base. But when the Maoist left, the party lost the chance to join the government. Moreover, its existence has been in crisis because many of its leaders could return to the mother party.  

Although the UML leaders are reportedly making efforts to bring the CPN (Unified Socialist) on board the government, Nepal has rejected the offer.  

 

Blame game in Nepali Congress

After losing everything in the last movement of government formation, the Nepali Congress leaders are engaged in blame games. While the leaders of the rival faction have accused party president Sher Bahadur Deuba and his coterie of failing to keep the alliance intact and form the government under NC, the leaders of the establishment faction have blamed the rival leaders and suggested Deuba forming a government under NC and not to give the president to other parties, but they did not cooperate with Deuba to save the alliance.

A few leaders of the rival faction have even demanded the resignation of Deuba from the post of party president and parliamentary party leader. They have also voiced for a special convention of the party.

However, Deuba, who has the support of 82 per cent of central committee members, may not agree to call the special convention and step down from party president. However, he can quit the post of PP leader so that the party could perform a better role of the main opposition in the parliament.

The party has called its central working committee meeting for January 6 to review the elections. And Deuba may face severe criticism from rival leaders in the meeting. Those leaders, including the general secretary who opposed the pre-election alliance, could seek answers from Deuba for the damages the party suffered from the alliance.

The NC reached the opposition in the centre and provinces because of Deuba's greed to become Prime Minister for the sixth time. His wife Arzu Rana, who has earned a bad name for her corrupt activities, and party vice president Purna Bahadur Khadka, leader Gyanendra Bahadur Karki and spokesperson Prakash Sharna Mahat are sure to be the targets of the rival leaders in the meeting. Even within the Deuba faction, a division has been noticed after NC became the main opposition from the ruling party because of the wrong strategies of Deuba and his coterie. Deuba is accused of not involving party vice president Dhan Raj Gurung, general secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma in the meeting of the ruling coalition. When Deuba did give no value to the two general secretaries, they reached Pokhara for an event and the coalition collapsed when they were in Pokhara. Even no joint general secretary was invited to the meeting of coalition parties. Everything was decided by Deuba, his wife, Karki, Baimalendra Nidhi, Dr Mahat and Khadka.

 

UML and Maoist Center can form provincial governments by sidelining NC

Had Deuba not insisted like a kid on the post of the Prime Minister and had the coalition led by him been intact, the NC would be leading government in at least four provinces where the party has emerged as the largest single party. But now the situation has been reversed after the Maoist Centre quit the alliance and forged a new alliance with the CPN-UML. Now the UML and the Maoist Centre can form a government in all seven provinces. Even though they lack a majority in Sudurpaschim Province, they can form the government in the support of Resham Chaudhary's party.