There were only 110 of them at Baluwatar on Friday. Yet the newly elected CA members of the Nepali Congress had a hard time recognising each other. For the first time in NC history, the gathering included people from yet unrepresented minority groups. The leader Girija Prasad Koirala didn’t speak much. He didn’t want to borrow any more (y)ears.

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Not GPK. No sir. The octogenarian holy saint is “free from all kinds of greed”. Hear that, Dactarsaab? Daughter dear? Dalwallahs? And his Highness’ ever-elongating inhaler? It’s PLAstic surgery, stupid.

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As the D-Day for the implementation of republic nears, the intensity of rumours circulating the grapevine is increasing. The big question: Will he or will he not? The question would not have been significant if it hadn’t been for the considerable differences in opinion within the Nepali Army. Some want Gyanendra to leave peacefully, while others insist that he should build bunkers. This is making a lot of politicians and peace makers worried. It’s not an alien invasion, for G’s sake.

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KP Bhattarai, for his part, is in denial. NC’s swashbuckling showing in the CA polls hasn’t gone down too well at Brindaban. In a recent TV interview, Kishunjee vowed his allegiance to NC (D). What, the two NCs had merged? Why hadn’t anyone told him? We tried, sir. Your antenna would only pick up History Channel.

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Thousands of people in Bajhang and Darchula are locking up their homes and heading up the Yarshagumba trail. A severe food crisis looming large, there is nothing wrong at all in the poor chaps looking to make some much-needed bucks — and a few babies while they are at it. Going at Rs 600,000 a kilo, why not make hay while the Sun sets?

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According to insiders, Madhav Kumar Nepal, the new UML foreign division chief, is reasonably happy with his new portfolio. With his immediate successor at the bidesh branch Jhala Nath Khanal chosen as new general secretary, Nepal believes what goes around comes around. Meanwhile, New Nepal, at this ripe, old age is learning to drive.

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The government has left it upon the assemblers to choose their textiles as well as their tongues inside the Great Hall of China. When all and sundry are having their say, let

the voices of migrant workers forced to roll their tongues in Korea and Middle East also reverberate in the New Baneshwor jamboree. For starters, how about basic Arabic, Korean and Hebrew for the pols?