Koirala has held separate meetings with Chairman of Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP) Surya Bahadur Thapa, Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Pashupati Shumsher Rana and former General Secretary of CPN-UML Madhav Kumar to further his mission.
Thapa and Rana have assured Koirala that they will cooperate with his mission, sources privy to the discussions revealed to Republica.
A close aide to Thapa said, “(Surya Bahadur) Thapa, during the meeting, urged Koirala to assume leadership of such an alliance.”
Koirala had told Thapa and Rana and that he would intensify negotiations with other parties including Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) and Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party (TMLP) after his return from Dhangadhi. The former party is in the coalition government led by the Maoists.
Dahal, meanwhile, has almost formalized his party’s unification with CPN-Unity Centre (Masal) besides intensifying consultations with all other left political parties to establish a single strong communist party in Nepal. CPN (Maoist) has also decided to change its name to Communist Party of Nepal so that all other communist parties will feel comfortable coming under a larger umbrella party.
NC senior leader and close aide to Koirala, Dr Shekhar Koirala said, “A democratic alliance is necessary now as a strong alternative force.”
Stating that Maoist highhandedness has continued unabated, Dr Koirala said it’s high time all democrats became integrated in the larger interest of democracy. “But Koirala’s initiative is at a preliminary stage,” he said.
He was quick to add that the alliance was not being formed to topple the government. “NC is not in any mood to get back into power for the next few years,” he said. “We feel comfortable concentrating on our organizational activities while remaining in the opposition.”
Maoist central leader Barsha Man Pun, who is close to Dahal, said the Maoist drive is to unite all communist parties and form a strong communist alliance. “We are holding negotiations in this regard with all other communist parties including UML,” he said.
Koirala and Dahal, in an informal chat during Dahal’s visit to the Gangalal Heart Center to inquire about Koirala’s condition, revealed their plans to each other. A party leader who was present during the conversation said the two of them jokingly challenged each other thus: “Let’s see who will be successful?”
“The success of either leader largely depends on the role of the UML,” says Dr Koirala, adding, “Koirala is in close touch with the UML top brass.”
He says UML heavyweights including Madhav Kumar and KP Oli may consider joining the democratic alliance. He, however, claims that the NC should abandon its centrist path and move to left of center if it is to include UML and other left-leaning political parties in the broader democratic alliance.
The issue of choosing between NC and Maoist may mean a tough battle within the UML. UML General Secretary Jhalanath Khanal and another powerful leader and Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam maintain closer relations with the Maoist than with the NC.
UML central leader Pradip Gyawali, however, vehemently rejects any kind of polarization.
“Neither the democratic nor the left alliance is a good thing during the current transitional period,” Gyawali said. He said current politics can’t move forward while excluding either of the main political forces -- Maoist or Nepali Congress. “In fact, a broader alliance of all political parties including NC and Maoist is required to complete the noble task of drafting a new constitution,” he said.
He charged that polarization under whatever excuse will not benefit national politics. “UML is strongly against any kind of polarization,” he said, adding, “It will invite a disaster for the country.”
Coincidentally, Koirala’s call for a democratic alliance came right after Indian Minister for External Affaris Pranab Mukherjee’s visit on November 23.
“I don’t think he asked Koirala to take the initiative in forming a broader democratic alliance,” Dr Koirala says, adding, “But it’s for sure he wants to tame the Maoists.”
NC President Koirala, who fell ill following his return from Dhangadhi on December 7, is set to take forward his democratic alliance mission once he makes a complete recovery.
“I don’t know how Koirala and Dahal will succeed in their missions. But Koirala’s initiative to form a democratic alliance will essentially not succeed until the UML or a larger section thereof supports it,” Dr Koirala said. “Otherwise, an alliance of the rightists may come up, which will in fact be a disaster for the country.”
ghanashyam@myrepublica.com
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