By Sunil KC

The KP Oli government has suddenly looked jittery with one controversy after the other piling up like a snowball and it could fall like an avalanche on Oli and his coalition government with the Nepali Congress.

When the two cases - one of alleged misappropriation of cooperative funds by Lamichhane and the other of accusation against Oli himself by Durga Prasai of alleged business dealing with a Cambodian telecom company were already more than a handful, Oli's visit to China and the controversy regarding the signing of agreements under the BRI framework has shaken the government.

Then, the sudden visit of US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Donald Lu within days of Oli's signing of the BRI framework stirred the alliance of UML and Nepali Congress. During his visit, the US Assistant Secretary Lu met with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpakamal Dahal, but not KP Oli. However, he met with two of Oli's senior advisors, Yubraj Khatiwada and Bishnu Rimal. In his meeting with Deuba, Lu is said to have asked for clarification and to make open the agreement with China. Members of the Nepali Congress have also said the agreement to procure loans under the BRI project was against the party's understanding with Oli before the latter's China visit.

On the other side, the Oli government's handling of Lamichhane's case has drawn criticism from the media, political parties and human rights organizations. Lamichhane has been in custody for the last two months on charges of embezzlement of funds from six different cooperatives in five different districts. And Lamichhane's shuttling from one district to another in the name of seeking explanation-one time in the dead of the night drew flaks from the media, legal professionals, political analysts and political parties, even some from Oli's coalition partner, Nepali Congress, saying it was contrary to the basic human rights principle and the criminal justice system. They even suspected of ulterior motive of the government and voiced concern about his safety. The Human Rights Commission sought clarification from the police administration regarding the Lamichhane's moving from one district to another in quick succession. The police are expected to present their findings to the public prosecutor's office court this week for further legal battle.

One major accusation against the government is that it has singled out Lamichhane as political vengeance in keeping him in custody for more than two months in the name of investigation while others accused of fraud of the cooperatives are being dealt more tamely. Dhan Raj Gurung, vice president of the Nepali Congress Party was released after minimal questioning and police quietly filed a case of cooperative fraud against the wife of Rishikesh Pokharel, chairman of a parliamentary committee chairman, without taking her into custody.

In the meantime, as soon as Oli was cornered with controversies and accusations, Dahal of the Maoist Center was solidly behind Lamichhane and he saw it as an opportunity to vent his wrath against Oli for hijacking the support of the Nepali Congress from his coalition government. At a program last week he said his government was toppled when it began an investigation of corruption against Oli and Arzu Deuba of Nepali Congress. Oli in his repartee accused Dahal of trying to fish in the brackish water saying Dahal and his party were behind everything bad that is happening in the country. This is not the first time these two communist party leaders have thrown verbal salvos vilifying each other and at times stooping to the meanest level accusing each other of the biggest cohorts of corrupt or harboring cronies and crooks.

Meanwhile, while Oli is drawing flak within the country and political pundits even predicting the downfall of the current government, it is Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress, who might be feeling the heat. Deuba suddenly changed sides and partnered with Oli five months ago. With rumours of the fall of the present coalition rife in the political circle, the question is if Oli's government falls, what could be the possible alternative? Will Deuba again pay salaam to Dahal for yet another coalition with other small parties like Lamichhane's Rastriya Swantra Party, to garner the necessary majority in the parliament? That would tick the clock back five months again. Or, despite them slandering each other in public, will Oli and Dahal to join hands once again for another communist government? You never know!  Or Oli and Deuba might find some scapegoat like Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak or the police chief or Surya Thapa, chairman of the parliamentary committee that investigated Lamichhane to keep the current coalition going. However, there seems little chance of status quo in both the UML and Nepali Congress. There are already voices against the leadership of Oli and Deuba in their parties. Who knows, the first heads to roll on this episode could be that of Oli and Deuba from their party leadership!