By Shashi P.B.B. Malla
If the dear reader or anyone else in her/his right mind really thinks that Nepal’s political parties are moving forward in leaps and bounds, then one can truly say that she/he suffers from a severe case of delusion or even mental disorder.
If they are indeed thriving, then it is the ‘flourishing’ of a pig-sty – with all its accompanying filth!
First, take the case of the ruling party the CPN-United Marxists-Leninists (UML). Like other main political parties, it has long degenerated into a syndicate catering to the needs and interests of its so-called ‘leaders’ and apparatchiks – thus a Mafia-like family led by a Don.
The UML is led by the reigning prime minister Shri K.P. Sharma Oli who is monarch of all he surveys.
Yes, you have read correctly. Like in the days before the grand unification by the great king of Gorkha, Prithvi Narayan Shah when the country had 22 and 24 petty kingdoms, the Himalayan Republic, in fact, has reverted to the rule of fiefdoms – only this time, of the political parties. The dons and their henchmen are lording it over the innocent Nepalese – who seem to be completely helpless!
His Lordship K.P. Sharma Oli’s idea of good governance consists of regularly ordering his underlings to do this and that, but with no follow up control.
Only “Oli-garchy” is thriving.
Oli’s co-ruler, the tottering Sher Bahadur Deuba has seen better days, but is still looking forward to a new innings – if Oli really allows him to do so.
They say, he is grooming his wife to take on more important responsibilities. In the meantime as foreign minister she has travelled far and wide, but made minimal impact. She has neither the background nor the experience – nor the resources. Relations with India are in limbo.
Their political party, the Nepali Congress – the ostensible ‘Grand Old Party’ – is in a terrible mess. It does not practice internal democracy and, therefore, is not in a position to activate state craft by genuine democratic means.
Currently, they have nothing better to do than jostle for power within the hierarchy. Everyone wants to be ‘boss’.
Nepali Congress-wallahs are no longer ‘the strange bedfellows’ of Oli’s Communists, so that a new nomenclature is called for: CPN-DS (Democratic Socialists).
The Maoist boss Pushpa Kamal Dahal has nothing better to do than to scheme of how to get his pound of flesh and again be part of the political equation.
The CPN-Maoist Centre finds itself in an advanced stage of decomposition. The emanating putrid smell is apparent. Gone are the heady and glorious days of the ‘People’s War’.
Finally, we have the strange case of the breakaway CPN-Unified Socialists which has an existential problem and is discussing whether to again be part of the parent CPN-UML – ‘to be, or not to be – that is the question’!
With all the main political parties decisively discredited, it can be truly said that the Himalayan Republic is awaiting the blooming of the Rhododendron Spring!
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