KATHMANDU: Whether it was a candid statement or a calculated one, it created ripples in the political spectrum.
Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ is considered a shrewd politician, who often creates waves by airing befuddling statements. This Sunday, he made a remark at the Nepali Congress central office at a program hinting at the possibility of ‘politics making a U-turn’, which enthused the Nepali Congress, the main opposition party.
Dahal categorically stated that politics do not always take a straight course while reminiscing the then Maoist Center’s alliance with the NC party during the previous elections.
What more could have been soothing for the NC leaders when he went on to say, “I have always a soft corner for the NC.”
This, however, stirred suspicion among the NCP leaders and cadres.
Dahal’s statement was, in fact, easy to understand but had a deep meaning in itself. Consider what he said: “Everything is possible in politics. I am still seeking NC’s cooperation”.
Dahal is accustomed to floating statements that, in the long run, corroborates his action. For instance, in the past, too, he had split the UML-Maoist Center alliance to form a coalition government with the NC.
He made another statement saying amid applauds, “I feel at home when I come to the NC central party office. For me, NC leaders are my buddies.”
What encouraged the NC, even more, was when Dahal went on to say that his presence might have boosted NC’s morale.
“I feel as if I am with the compatriots — not with the opposition party leaders — while exchanging greetings,” said Dahal, adding, “My presence here must have boosted your (NC’s) morale.”
He reminisced the signing of the 12-point agreement along with the then NC President Girija Prasad Koirala saying, “Nothing is impossible in politics.”
This as observers say, has a meaning. Now, consider this: When a journalist asked him to elucidate his statement of ‘cooperation with NC’ when there was already a two-thirds majority government, Dahal snubbed the journalist saying, “Let’s not talk about two-thirds majority at this moment.”
NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, too, was in a state of confusion. “No talks have been held to this end,” an excited Deuba responded.
However, Prime Minister KP Oli hinted at a ‘not-so-good’ relationship with the NC. He responded thus: “Such greeting-exchange programs will help improve ties between the political parties.”
Dumfounded by the question asked by journalists, Oli preferred to remain indifferent saying that such issues should not be raised during a greeting-exchange program.
This makes it clear that NCP chairpersons have some sort of bitterness between them.
To recall, during the 2017 elections, while Oli had then come down heavily on the NC at a mass meeting, Dahal had shown a soft spot for the NC lawmakers and talked about the alliance with the NC.
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