Source: http://www.telegraphnepal.com/index.php

Koirala-cracy: Gone with the Wind in Nepal

TGW Analyst

Senior Nepali Congress leader, Girija Prasad Koirala, appears frustrated at the moment.

Congressites talked to be closer to him say that the reasons for Koirala’s present frustration are manifold.

The first and most plausible reason they forward is the visible reluctance of the Indian leaders to see him in person while he was in New Delhi.

A Koirala who was greeted by the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh himself right at the International Airport, June 6, 2006, when he had just assumed the post of the Prime Minister of a Nepal which was soon to be declared a Republic under the direct and meticulous supervision of the RAW and its Nepali cohorts, had not even a single minute for the ailing Koirala this time. A grand repetition of the India’s “use and throw” policy. Poor Koirala!

Koirala made several appeals for an “audience” with Dr. Man Mohan Singh but the latter not only ignored his repeated requests but sent messages through his colleagues that the Nepali Congress must join the Maoist led coalition government in Nepal. Depression of the highest order must have instantly gripped Koirala.

The second jolt associated with some humiliation Koirala felt right being in Delhi when he was told point blank that the “Indian Queen” (Read Sonia Gandhi-the President of Indian Congress) too have had not even a single second to see him in person.

This was enough for Koirala to understand his actual surface in New Delhi’s current scheme of things.

In order to avoid further frustration upon his return to Kathmandu from Delhi’s non-scheduled pilgrimage, Koirala pretended that “he had no time to see Dr. Singh and Sonia”. Himalayan lies indeed. Not bad in politics, it happens at times.

The third tremor that shook Koirala from within was the news that Madame India threw a red carpet welcome to the now dethroned King Gyanendra at her private residence in 10-Jan Path, New Delhi, on March 18, 2009.

This must have been enough for Koirala to conclude that the Indian leaders can’t be taken for granted while not in power.

In a way, Koirala could also have made up his mind that henceforth he would rely more on Nepali nationals than excessively relying upon foreigners.

He must have remembered former King Gyanendra who was Koirala’s first and last victim.

Excessive political ambitions at times become counterproductive.

It is thus very likely that Koirala will meet the sidelined King upon his return and form a common front which will possibly be beamingly joined by the entire liberals like, for example, S.B. Thapa, P. Rana and Kamal Thapa and a host of others.

That Koirala returned empty handed from New Delhi was best understood by Nepal Prime Minister Dahal in advance. He too, let us presume for the sake of convenience, has his “agents” in New Delhi who must have reported to him that neither Dr. Singh nor Madame India met with Koirala. After all, Prachanda spent some good eight years in Delhi as per his own admission.

This news must have been enough to assure and reassure Nepal PM Dahal that “his regime was safe and sound and that the Indian establishment apparently has had no designs as such to destabilize his Premiership as was given to understand by the local mainstream media”.

A confident Prime Minister Dahal knocked the door of Koirala’s residence, a day later of his return from New Delhi.

Koirala came to Kathmandu on March 15, 2009.

Prime Minister Dahal without informing Koirala stepped into Koirala’s house March 16, 2009 early morning.

A pretty annoyed and frustrated Koirala told his close aides that PM Dahal be told that he was not feeling well and thus the meet could not be made.

PM Dahal still waited for some good forty minutes and then returned without seeing Koirala.

When Koirala learnt that Dahal had already returned then he came down and began talking to his close aides.

Prachanda-the Prime Minister must have been angry with Koirala looking at the latter’s behavior meted out to him but yet he gulped the anger in the larger interest of his political health.

Sense prevailed over Koirala who then invited Nepal Prime Minister Dahal on March 19, 2009, at his private residence in Maharajgunj.

An annoyed PM Dahal though went to see Koirala but bluntly sounded the ailing leader of the Nepali Congress not to “politicize” the army retirement issue any more.

“The decision has already been taken by the defense ministry which will not be revoked come what may”, is what PM Dahal told Koirala.

Tit for tat.

Sources close to Koirala claim that listening to Prachanda’s blunt remarks, Koirala modestly appealed the Prime Minister to give second thoughts to the decision taken by the government on the army.

The March 19, 2009, meet between Koirala and Nepal PM Dahal is learnt to have lasted for an hour.

Which remaining cards a frustrated Koirala brings out from under his sleeves is not yet known, however, what is for sure is that Koirala will devise newer stratagems to destabilize the Maoists rule in Nepal. Koirala, by all means, is a different political stuff.

2009-03-20 18:41:14