Must Bhattarai go? Dahal ponders
- The Maoist boss is ‘willing’ to replace the PM
As the political temperature in Kathmandu heats up once again with political parties posturing before crucial negotiations on constitution writing and the peace process, which remain largely stalled, speculations are rife that the stagnation is also a result of the Maoist leadership’s plan to change the government.
Of late, the relationship between Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has soured—which is also observed as a ‘side-effect’ of the bickering on larger issues of peace and statute.
Multiple sources claimed that Dahal has grown impatient with Bhattarai and is willing to replace him to appease hardliners in the party. Dahal communicated his desire to Bhattarai on Sunday.
Bhattarai’s replacement is one of the prominent agendas put forth by the Baidya faction to maintain party unity. The two rival factions have managed to patch up differences for now and it was possible only after Dahal reportedly agreed to meet Baidya’s demand.
The idea of replacing Bhattarai, however, is hard to sell even in the Nepali Congress, whose top brass is firm on its stand that Bhattarai should continue till the peace process is complete. However, if the peace process remains stalled, for whatever reasons, those who are sympathetic to Bhattarai could also change their mind. “We don’t want to replace Bhattarai right now, but if his party is plotting it, we cannot stop it,” said a senior NC leader. “We will, however, try our best to convince Dahal not to think of changing the government and concentrate on implementing the past pacts.”
Apparently referring to the very plot, Bhattarai’s personal aid Bishowdip Pandey wrote on his Facebook status on Sunday, “Once again, a futile conspiracy is being hatched.”
Whatever the plot, pressure is already mounting on Bhattarai to resign as the peace process remains stalled and the opposition parties, including the NC and the UML, have hardened their positions.
Sources said that though the NC top brass is still supporting Bhattarai, most UML leaders and a significant chunk of second-rank NC leaders have been advocating for replacing Bhattarai. In that line, Dahal and UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal are said to have agreed to change the government. Earlier on Saturday, Khanal had publicly demanded Bhattarai’s resignation, terming him “non-functional”.
As the relationship between Dahal and Baidya is thawing, the Bhattarai-led faction in the Maoist party seems suspicious. A top leader in the faction said they are closely following the dialogue between Dahal and Baidya. “We are in a wait-and-see mode,” said Bhattarai loyal Khagaraj Bhatta. Politburo member Haribol Gajurel said there is no alternative with the Maoist party than to continue with the Bhattarai-led government as other parties are besieging the Maoist party. He, however, said Bhattarai will have to think if the peace and constitution writing processes fail to move ahead and other parties put all blame on the Maoists.
In an interview to the Post a week ago, Dahal, however, had claimed that a national unity government will soon be formed under Bhattarai.
Posted on: 2012-01-10 09:37
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