Nepali Times
DAMAKANT JAYSHI
My Take
Flexi-Dahal


DAMAKANT JAYSHI


KIRAN PANDAY

Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has emerged as the most flexible of Nepali politicians. He is ready to strike a compromise on almost everything to return to the prime minister's quarters at Baluwatar. This is both a challenge and an opportunity for other political parties.

Should the non-Maoist parties believe Dahal this time? After all, there is no lack of evidence to question his intentions: the infamous Shaktikhor video tape in which he speaks of the 'real' goals of entering the peace process, the tape from Khanna Garment vilifying Baburam Bhattarai and India, and the very visible contradictions between what he has said in public over honouring commitments made in peace agreements and his assertions in the party's internal documents.

With the Nepali Congress refusing to stand down from the elections that, while failing to elect its lone candidate, have effectively blocked the prime ministerial designs of Dahal (who has been assured of support from a section of the CPN-UML and the Madhesi People's Rights Forum), Dahal has changed tack. From fire-breathing, venom-spitting 'Prachanda', he has rebranded himself as 'Mr Flexible'.

The chairman's flexibility springs from three other factors. China has asked him to mend relations with India. Remember his Nepal-China-India dialogue proposal after his return from Shanghai? It was a ruse to hide his failed attempt to play the 'China card'.

Second, India has gone very public in turning the heat up on the man and his party, which they sheltered and funded while it waged the 'people's war' in Nepal. All these leaks about the UCPN (Maoist)'s alleged support to the Indian Maoists are very deliberate and are intended to unsettle Dahal.

The third and most important factor is the ugly display of an internal feud over the Maoist party's next course of action and the alleged misuse of party funds on a grand scale. The funds of the richest party of the poorest people in the country are managed by Dahal's close relatives. Add to this the question of the legitimacy of his leadership, which is popping up here and there, ever so softly. Dahal has been leading the party for two decades without the benefit of an election. Talk about the hypocrisy of those who question the legitimacy of Madhav Kumar Nepal as prime minister.

Dahal, therefore, is under pressure the likes of which he has never experienced before. He knows he has to walk a tightrope when it comes to dealing with non-Maoist parties, his detractors within the party, and India.

Given Dahal's precarious situation, it might be tempting for the Nepali Congress and the UML faction led by MK Nepal-KP Oli to try to push him to the wall. Nothing could be more counterproductive.

The chairman still calls the shots in the party, since he controls its money and muscle. If Dahal can portray himself as a man cornered by an India-internal party rivals-NC/UML combine, he can generate a huge sympathy wave for himself and break free from the shackles he himself helped create in the first place. A teary chairman is very much capable of pulling off this stunt.

So the NC and UML should focus on the tasks at hand and concentrate on consolidating the gains made since the People's Movement II of 2006. An under pressure but secure-of-position-and-perks Dahal is a better bet than a completely humiliated one in taking the peace process to its logical end and ensuring the writing of the constitution by May 2011.

damakant@gmail.com

READ ALSO:
Damage done, EDITORIAL

The notional enemy, PRASHANT JHA



1. jange
Should the non-Maoist parties believe Dahal this time?

Should you even be asking this question?

Let's face it. The Maoists are a mafia organisation not a political party.

Hence the arguments regarding their funds. Like with all mafia organisations we will see a shootout among the factions. Just pray that you don't get caught in the crossfire.


2. K. K. Sharma

Damakanta, as a typical Nepali intellectuals, you had believed the Maoists when India wanted you to do so. You will question the Maoists when India wants you to do so. Keeping Maoist on board is the opinion already floated by the likes of S.D. Muni, and Gen. Mathur. So naturally, you have gone along, 


3. who cares
in my view, it would be a blunder.

there has to be constant pressures on maoist.

everyone should start thinking about the alternative too.

there has to be added new pressures like- constitution based on freedom or referendum, solve problem of pla with in two months or clear the camps, those pla who take part in plenum should be discharged from the camp and no benefit and no army job. 



EVERYBODY START THINKING ABOUT ALTERNATIVE. 








4. who cares
and also,

should not forget the past that, whenever there is pressure, maoist always surrenders and after 2/3 days when others start to think that this time maoist will implement their part of the commitment and stop putting pressure, ,,,,,  then maosit make a U-turn and someone from maoist come up barking that they are not here to surrender, they were not defeated in the war....



so true pressure from national as well as international forces is the easiest way out, if that does not work then no one should oppose military backed solution.



WE NEED A HERO.


 


5. Arthur
I guess the real message of this article is that the author no longer thinks the current NC tactics was a brilliant move to force concessions from the Maoists and that NC should pretending that it can prevent the largest party from leading a national consensus government.

But that message is obscured by the attempt to make it more palatable to the simple minded by expressing it as though this need for NC to compromise arises from some pressure on and weakness of Prachanda.



6. Prakash Tiwari
The writer needs to be critical and balanced if he wishes his article being read by all and if his real motive is to make people aware of the latest polticial topics. But, he seems too biased and  unnatural. Perhaps he forgets the weight of the maoists and their philosophical background. I dislike his writing that only vomits against Maoist. He at least should dare to believe that the Maoists are the catalyst for this changed scene. But, he does not. His hypothesis itself is wrong and prejudiced. So, Jaishi needs correction.
 


LATEST ISSUE
638
(11 JAN 2013 - 17 JAN 2013)


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