Pushpa Kamal Dahal must by now be aware of the great perils of alienating India. In 2009, it was under India’s pressure that he had to resign as the prime minister following his ham-fisted attempt to sack then Army Chief Rookmangud Katawal. New Delhi, spooked by the audacious move of the Maoist chief and till the time still the nominal head of the PLA, intervened to check Maoist inroads into the national army. It feared the greater ramification of the Maoist ‘coup’ on the Naxalite movement in India. Since then the Maoist chief has always had a difficult relationship with New Delhi. In recent times, Dahal has made a deliberate attempt to mend the frayed ties with India by his unequivocal backing of all bilateral measures proposed by the Bhattarai government. He has also been at pains to prove that he is a changed person, even accepting that the attempt at forced removal of Katawal was his biggest mistake as government head.
Dahal once again has rumor mills churning with his third visit to the People’s Republic of China since the Maoists came onboard in 2006. It is worth recalling that breaking with the tradition of elected Nepali prime ministers visiting New Delhi in their inaugural foreign trip, Dahal decided to start his premiership by visiting Beijing. On the other hand, it is intriguing that during his 19 months as prime minister, Baburam Bhattarai never visited China, and over the years the JNU-educated Bhattarai has made no attempt to hide his proclivity towards India. Although Dahal is scheduled to visit New Delhi immediately upon his return from China, New Delhi’s concerns about his democratic credentials and his penchant for the Mao’s land is likely to persist, as the Maoist chief has once again picked Beijing over New Delhi.
Symbolism is everything in diplomacy.
China clearly sees Dahal as future leadership material, and is keen to press home its advantage of close ties with Nepali Maoists on Tibet. Beijing’s concerns have been heightened following the recent spate of self-immolations by Free Tibet activists in the region, including Nepal. On Nepal’s side, although the purported reason behind the China trip is establishment of greater economic ties between the two countries and garnering support for CA polls, Dahal will undoubtedly look to consolidate his image as the preeminent political leader of post-2008 Nepal who is once again destined for higher office. Also on the agenda would be enhancing the ties between the Communist Party of China and UCPN (Maoist), the biggest political outfits in respective countries.
Dahal’s success is likely to be determined by how he handles his relation with New Delhi.
By once again preferring Beijing over New Delhi, Dahal is perhaps looking to play up one of his major differences with his vice-chair. But political leaders playing favorites with our two big neighbors will do no one any good. Dahal is bang on when he says the support of both India and China will be crucial for successful CA polls and national development. But whether he likes it or not, Dahal’s success as a statesman is likely to be determined by how he handles his at times prickly relation with New Delhi. His China visit will be closely followed in the corridors of the South Block.
Related story
Sichuan team bags victory in Nepal-China Friendly "Dragon Boat...
