By Our Reporter

The latest moves and statements made by Nepali Congress leader Shekhar Koirala have stolen the sleep of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and NC president Sher Bahadur Deuba, who, according to an agreement made last year, will become Prime Minister in June next year.

But Koirala's move has posed a threat to the agreement. Irked by the disciplinary actions taken by the party against the leaders loyal to him, Koirala seems determined to teach a lesson to the party leadership. He has strongly criticised the present coalition government led by Oli, stating that the government failed to deliver and address the public's frustrations. He is also not happy with party leadership, which, according to him, has become only a helpless shadow on PM Oli.

He said what the party leadership is doing now will harm the party in the long run.

Recently, he held meetings with CPN (Maoist Centre) chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, and former president Bidya Bhandari. The meetings were portrayed as a design to topple the government. He also held a meeting with lawmakers and ministers close to him, and he reportedly told the ministers to be ready to quit their positions.

Koirala, who has already launched a campaign to become the party president in the upcoming 15th party general convention, looks more aggressive towards party president Sher Bahadur Deuba. Considering Koirala's move, former office bearers last week held a meeting and even met Deuba.  

Moreover, when independent lawmaker Amaresh Kumar Singh said that the next PM would be Koirala, not Deuba, many were shocked, and a few believed him too.

However, before becoming the PM, Koirala needs to become the parliamentary party leader, which looks impossible. The chances of dividing UML in the leadership of Bidya Bhandari are now slim with the UML preventing her from joining party politics.

 As such, Koirala cannot become PM for now. However, he intends to exert pressure on Deuba to withdraw the disciplinary actions taken against a few NC leaders, because non-cooperation from Koirala could prevent Deuba from becoming PM in June next year.

Moreover, the dispute surfaced within the establishment faction in NC in Bagmati has caused a friction. Now two leaders close to party president Deuba are face-to-face in Bagmati Provincial Assembly.

Indra Baniya group has filed and passed a no-trust motion against Chief Minister Bahadur Singh Lama in the parliamentary party. However, Lama refused to step down, stating that his was a coalition government. The tussle is likely to be deepened, which will surely create friction within Deuba camp, which will further provide a breeding ground for Koirala to intensify his activities.