Deuba, however, possesses the negotiating skills of a high order. It was visible during the MCC issue when he successfully yoked the diagonally differing political parties. He also calmed down the Shekhar faction in the Nepali Congress, which wanted to go all alone in the national election instead of tying the knot with the communist parties of differing hues
The political cauldron of the Nepali Congress is on a boil. The Shekhar Koirala Group has expressed its dissatisfaction over the handling of the national and party affairs by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.
The failure to hold a meeting on the review of the local election has been the main source of dissatisfaction.
The others are the inability to host a policy conference, the dismal performance of the government marked by the astronomical increase in the price of consumer goods, the unavailability of fertiliser in an agriculture primate country and a skewed foreign policy.
Intra party dissents are, according to John Dewey, the fundamental right to differ. But they need to be addressed before they raise their ugly head, leading to a possible disaster. The mighty Ravan had to pay with his life after turning a deaf ear to his brother, Bibhishan.
Bibhishan had no option other than joining the adversary camp after he was insulted and manhandled in the running assembly.
Duryodhan also met a tragic death along with his hundred odd brothers after he refused to give even five little villages out of the huge Kuru Empire to the Pandava brothers.
In India, Indira Gandhi saw her party disintegrate into the Old and New Congress after she failed to calm down the political storm brewing in her party.
Though she remained in power for quite a long period in the following years, reaching to the dizzy height of being recognised as Goddess Durga after the victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war, it paved the way for her heavy defeat in the hands of Raj Narayan, the leader of a hastily cobbled-up Janata Party.
The so-called Iron Lady and the only man of her cabinet Margaret Thatcher had to bow down after her poll tax policies and opposition to the entry to the European Community earned a dislike from other politicians.
It is no wonder then that Deuba like any other towering leader has to face stiff opposition within his party even though he enjoys near to 90 per cent support in the party. He has also performed remarkably well in getting the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) passed from the parliament.
Deuba successfully conducted the local election even though the opposition, the United Marxist-Leninist, cried wolf in saying that the election was rigged. The overwhelming support provided by the party and the people to Deuba, however, is not to sit idle but to act round the clock for the welfare of the people and the party. Unfortunately, this is not happening as mentioned hereunder.
Firstly, the commitment made to hold a policy convention on the eve of the last convention has to be honoured. It has been very late. In fact, the party has become a laughing stock in the eyes of the adversaries because the governing party has to have a clear cut policy in order to make any headway.
Secondly, the Nepali Congress has been given a thumping mandate by the people in the last local election by handing victory in 328 local governments out of the 753. But after that, the Nepali Congress has not bothered to make a review of the local election regarding its ups and downs. The party has not even thanked the voters for putting their invaluable faith in it.
Thirdly, the erratic increase in the price of fuel leading to a spike in the price of daily commodities has brought untold sufferings to the people. It has been compounded by the unavailability of fertilisers when needed most during the peak farming season.
Fourthly, the constitution of the Nepali Congress, a life line for its survival, has not been followed in its letter and spirit. The appointment of people in the Central Committee appears to be made on an ad hoc basis more than based on any rationale. This is unfortunate for the oldest and largest democratic party of Nepal.
Finally, the visit of Uzra Zeya, the U.S. special coordinator on Tibetan issues, to Nepal and her meeting with the Tibetan refugees staying in Nepal have raised many eyebrows in the country and mostly in China. Sandwiched Nepal cannot irritate its neighbours as it can have dire consequence as could be seen from the Ukraine and Russian War.
Nepal appeared to deviate from the policy of non-alignment that it has been pursuing since a long time now. Luckily, the statement of the Prime Minister, indicating the closure of the gate of the Indian Check Posts on the Sino-Nepal border during his term, added the much-needed water in an otherwise raging issue.
Similarly, the letter sent to the United States not to take part in the State Partnership Programme has also restored the nonaligned status of Nepal.
Deuba, however, possesses the negotiating skills of a high order. It was visible during the MCC issue when he successfully yoked the diagonally differing political parties. He also calmed down the Shekhar faction in the Nepali Congress, which wanted to go all alone in the national election instead of tying the knot with the communist parties of differing hues by toning down the coalition by alliance. It has reaped high dividends for the Nepali Congress as it catapulted it to the number one party.
It has silenced the otherwise loud-mouthed UML.
Now UML has been alleging the five-party alliance forcibly led to its defeat even though it had forecast a resounding victory even against the combined front of all the political parties.
Despite these few positives, Deuba's government has not been able to deliver relief to the people hit by COVID-19. The adverse international situation, though real, cannot any more be presented as a whipping boy. A good government should be able to deliver even in adverse situations.
The growing dissent within the party at this difficult juncture has certainly offered a political setback to Deuba.
A version of this article appears in the print on July 4, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.