KATHMANDU: The credibility of politicians, across the party lines, is in question. On the one hand, they make all kinds of lofty promises, but on the other never live up to them. No wonder, the public is highly frustrated by the leaders’ double standards. The younger generation is not only worried about political stability but also the nation’s future.

A scrutiny of the leaders’ recent speeches underlines they seldom mean what they say in public.

For instance, the leaders of three major parties — Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala, Unified-CPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and CPN-UML boss Jhala Nath Khanal — have been making public utterances that they would break the deadlock soon.

The promise was made during a tea reception, hosted by the Nepali Congress on the occasion of Dashain, around a month ago. The thought found resonance during successive tea parties, organised by the CPN-UML and the Maoists.

The leaders’ public posturing raised hope among the public. Though they held talks several times during the interim, the solution remains few and far between. In fact, the differences

have widened in the past

few weeks. The public, in a sense, has by now come to terms with the status quo. The people have seen through the leaders’ contradictory statements.

Many are developing distaste for the political system, a trend that does not augur well for a young democracy like Nepal.

Many recent political developments point out that the nation is in a limbo.

Legislature-parliament has been in suspended animation since the Maoists bowed out of office over the Chief of Army Staff row six months ago. Ultimately, this may affect the peace process, feel experts.

The statute-drafting process has been hampered since the major parties are busy squabbling among themselves. And, it looks unlikely that the deadline of May 10, 2010, will be met.

The parties stand divided over several key issues such as the peace process — primarily on the content of the new statute, and supervision, rehabilitation and

integration of the Maoist fighters.

The Constituent Assembly (CA) and the parties are yet to initiate groundwork to reach a consensus on several contentious issues like the federal structure.

This is largely because the parties are ignoring the national interest. Many leaders are busy travelling abroad. Prachanda led his party delegates to China recently. Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and Rastriya Janashakti Party chief Surya Bahadur Thapa, too, visited India. UML boss Jhala Nath Khanal is now in New Delhi on a week-long trip.

The UML chairman, too, seemed to be eyeing the Prime Minister’s post. Interacting with Nepali students in the Indian capital yesterday, he said that he was ready to shoulder any responsibility, an oblique reference to his keenness to be the next premier. Sujata Koirala has been elevated to the post of Deputy Prime Minister a few weeks ago.

The move met with derision from a large section of Nepali Congress leaders, who accused Girija Prasad Koirala of nepotism.

They also threatened Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal that the Nepali Congress would be forced to withdraw its support to the UML-led coalition if he took any decision against the party’s institutionalised move.

To make matters worse, a Nepali Congress Central Committee meeting recently asked Girija Prasad Koirala to clarify his position as far Sujata’s promotion was concerned. Later, the “summon Girijababu” move was suppressed since a section of leaders felt that it would tarnish the party’s image.

But the veteran Nepali Congress leader continued to face flak during the

Mahasamiti meeting, which concluded last week. The Nepali Congress top

brass’s insistence on the presidential system, too, came under attack.

The ruling CPN-UML is not immune from internal dissension in its top echelons. The party is largely split into two camps, led by Jhala Nath Khanal and KP Oli.

The Khanal coterie is in favour of changes in the present coalition, but the Oli faction is opposed to it.

In this backdrop, the Maoists launched their second round of agitation to restore ‘civilian supremacy’ in the nation on November 1.

The ex-rebels’ ongoing stir aims to dislodge the UML-led coalition. Meanwhile, the main opposition has been in talks with a section of the Nepali Congress and UML leaders to realise its plan.