Nepal: The Bhattarai factor

N.P.Upadhyaya

Kathmandu: Well after five years or so of the painful separation of the congress party, the parties led by Koirala and that of Sher Bahadur Deuba formally have unified.

The unification of the two liberal parties is not only a Himalayan news in itself but has some hidden political connotations in it for the time ahead will reveal the hidden facts which possesses “some” elements that might have its full and powerful impact on the overall political “trend” of the country.

In effect, when the two splinter political entities forge unification practicing same or identical political ideologies, the event though becomes important and significant for all and sundry, however, the particular congress unification has come at a time when the nation had been demanding polarization in and among adherents of similar political preferences which also adds to the beauty of the congress unification.

Analysts wish to interpret the possible impact on the country’s politics as it stands today with the congress unification.

Firstly, undenyingly, the other liberal and democratic forces will also be encouraged and prompted to forge unity or at least manage working alliances with those parties or political entities which adhere to similar theories.

Secondly, the RED communists too would wish to swell their strength by forging alliances or even merger to match the formidable strength of the other camp that is of the liberals. The process of such a polarization has already begun.

Thirdly, and most importantly, the unified congress will be under tremendous pressure on how to proceed ahead? Should the party abide by the reconciliation theory enunciated by late B.P. Koirala or throw the entire “old” theory into the dustbin and move ahead with what the “people” long for in the changed political context?

Fourthly, and most importantly, the very inclusion of Congress saint leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai in the party’s hierarchy in the second place just after Girija Prasad Koirala, is not only significant but is of high political import as well for a variety of explainable and unexplainable reasons, to which we would come later.

Fifthly, the very inclusion of the once sidelined congress founding father-K.P. Bhattarai-also indicates that the unified not only needed his “crucial” advice at time of the polls but also makes it abundantly clear that the congress would now “value” what Bhattarai says or explains to his juniors.

Sixthly, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai is the lone congress leader whose voice is heard and taken by all for granted without any “hesitation”. Even his detractors in the party though differ with the theories forwarded by Bhattarai but finally bow down to his “commanding” orders. Some even take his instructions as the gospels. Thus Bhattarai’s place in the unified congress will certainly have an impact on the overall functioning of the party henceforth and his sermons might be taken as “final” by his junior party colleagues.

Seventhly, why the unified congress elevated the ranks of Mr. Bhattarai at this critical juncture more so in less than a week or so after he spoke in favor of the constitutional monarchy? This was not all; Bhattarai even went to see the ailing Crown Prince Paras at the Norvic Hospital and wished the Prince a speedy recovery? To recall, none of the congress stalwarts dared to go to the hospital where Paras was lying for almost a week. But how come this octogenarian congress leader dared to breach all the party dictates and sneaked into the hospital and yet his party provides him with a some what prestigious rank after the unification? This is a mystery.

The mystery has two components: first, either the congress leaders junior to him do not have that much courage to denounce their father-like leader and thus the entire story got hushed up; or secondly, Bhattarai must have been encouraged by Prime Minister Koirala himself to visit Crown Prince Paras on his behalf and thus the visit was made possible. There is no third theory which could untangle this mystery.

Eighthly, now the unified congress has two ladies-both occupying prestigious and commanding posts. These two ladies though differed with each other on many political counts, however, in the recent days both have begun working in tandem in order to provide some space to the sinking monarchy.

Ninthly, the freshly unified congress thus has three politically significant personalities who could in a combined manner bring about a paradigm shift in the current policies adopted by the congress vis-à-vis the monarchy, if they so desire.

Tenthly, recall that Bhattarai favors the continuation of the monarchy; recall, both Shailaja Acharya and Sujata Koirala have openly declared that the NC as a liberal party must not deviate from its standpoints carried over since six decades and must not abandon the monarchy under pressure or whatsoever.

Eleventhly, If Bhattarai with the present second rank in the congress hierarchy per chance gets the unflinching support from these two “special” congress ladies-who command respect and honor from the majority of the congress-on the monarchy, analysts say that the unified congress will have to think twice prior to making any commitment against the monarchy.

Take it for granted, providing some space to the monarchy will henceforth be the prime agenda of these three political personalities in the new congress.

Thus analysts see the combination of Brain (Bhattarai), Conviction (Shailaja) and Energy (Sujata) which could alter the current political trend in the congress if they so desire. Nevertheless, the Bhattarai factor is very important.

What more could be added here is that the third man in the new congress hierarchy is none less than Sher Bahadur Deuba who though has been many a times insulted by the King in the past but still the King can count on him.

Needless to say, the Nepali Royalty has some exclusive familial relations with Deuba through the kind courtesy of Mrs. Arzoo Rana-Deuba.

Analysts presume that Sher Bahadur Deuba by now has forgotten the past humiliations and would now work afresh in order to save the monarchy.

Add to this the hundreds of monarchists in the party who for fear of being dubbed as Royalists or Reactionaries so far have kept their mouth shut.

An undeclared research conducted by an independent INGO revealed that even as of today, some forty percent of the total Nepal population favor the continuation of monarchy. One more hair-raising revelation: some ten to twenty percent of the Maoists militias favor Monarchy, the same research reveals. No wonder. After all, who knows who is having what political taste? This is the beauty of democracy indeed.

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