www.newsfront.com.np Kathmandu l 8-14 Oct, 2007 l # 37 l Price Rs. 25 Dumped before use : The empty ballot boxes meant to be sent for polling booths, will now stored Beleaguered in election commission building. Koirala to quit once successor issue is settled ä nf correspondent its first president and going for proportional representation system, The downslide is complete. From a but there was absolute majority national hero to South Asia's legend, against it during informal consultation GP Koirala is now counting his days among the members of the central since the prime minister is now committee of the Nepali Congress. looking for a dignified exit in the Like UML, some central committee backdrop of his failure to hold members of the Congress party like elections to the constituent assembly Narahari Acharya, Madheshi as scheduled in November. He may Janadhikar Forum (MJF) and National be quitting any moment now. Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NFIN) asked Koirala to quit. Koirala made what appeared like his last political wish when Maoist In fact, Koirala had confided in leader Prachanda and Baburam, some of the Nepali Congress UML Secretary General Madhav ministers on October 4 that he should Kumar Nepal and Congress leader quit simultaneously after the Sher Bahadur Deuba met him announcement to annul polls are separately on Sunday. He asked made public on moral grounds, but them to look for an acceptable way to he was advised against it by two find his successor, although he did not senior ministers, Ram Sharan Mahat make it clear whether he will quit and Ram Chandra Poudel, a before the special session of Congress leader told newsfront. "But parliament summoned on October 11 he has made up his mind after or face it as the prime minister. Koirala was told clearly both by Madhav Nepal and Prachanda Informed sources said that Koirala separately on Sunday that his was no longer keen to continue in the leadership would no longer be post after his failure, but wanted that acceptable to them any more." ä the choice of his successor should take place through a consensus among the coalition partners as the seven party unity was crucial to the peace process and future of democracy in Nepal. There are however, indications of serious tussles likely for the race to the chair of the prime minister with Ram Chandra Poudel, Sushil Koirala and Sher Bahadur Deuba from the Congress party, and Madhav Kumar Nepal from the UML as the likely contenders. Although there were fears that Koirala could make any compromises to stick to the chair, he said he understood the rationale behind the demand for his head after his failure to conduct the polls. UML has already asked Koirala to own the moral responsibility and quit. "He must quit now," said education minister and UML's central secretariat member. Like UML, some central committee members of the Congress party like Narahari Acharya, Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) and National Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NFIN) have asked Koirala to quit, and no one from his party has come forward to save him. Koirala still had the option of accepting Maoists’ demand for declaring Nepal a republic, becoming 2 8-14 Oct., 2007 News Twice 'incompetent' Koirala defaults on election pledge ä nf correspondent Prime Minister G P Koirala failed to keep his promise to the nation as the November 22 election to the constituent assembly was called off. And this was when the election commission was making all the preparations to accept the list of party nominees under the proportional representation system, on October 5. There were some representa- Pix by Bashwor Ojha tives of smaller parties with their More than 6 thousand people participated in the NRN- Springwood Marathon in the capital on Oct 6. The event was organised to encourage tourists to come to Nepal. headquarters outside the capital having assured a visiting Finnish who were waiting to submit the Minister that elections would not list to the commission as October be deferred under any circum- 5 was the deadline. Chief Election stances. The government Commissioner Bhojraj Pokharel decision came when the minister had assured them that he would was still here assuring the Outside concern start accepting their list if he did election commission that the not hear anything by ten in the Finnish government was ready to morning from the government. At extend all its support to conduct Mukherjee in Delhi, international community for peace 9.30, he got a request from the free and fair polls. cabinet that the electoral process The annulment of the election Annulment of the election process in Mukherjee polls would bring into question the was being annulled. process at the last minute has Nepal has come as a disappointment legitimacy of the political system, All that the commission did raised questions about Koirala's for the international community which many Nepal politicians claiming after that was to issue a press leadership. The election was has so much at stake here in Nepal. proximity with Delhi say Ambassador statement officially intimating that called off as the Communist Party The disappointed reactions have come Mukherjee has advised the PM and election process was over despite of Nepal-Maoists (CPN-M) from the UN secretary general to EU, other prominent leaders 'at his it being fully prepared to conduct insisted that they would let it but there seems to be an element of personal capacity' that parliament the polls. "Our being fully happen on schedule only if the sadness at personal level for Indian should declare Nepal a republic when prepared for the poll alone was GP Koirala led coalition partners ambassador Shiv Mukherjee. it meets next week. not sufficient", it said, implying agree to declare Nepal a Mukherjee who is waiting for a more UN Secretary General Ban Ki that it was the government which 'Republic' and go for proportional lucrative posting any time, most likely in Moon, the United States of America, was entirely at fault. This was the system of election instead of the London, was on an extended tenure as European Union and the Carter second time that the elections earlier agreed mixed system. he wanted to be around during the and the United States had met PM Center have expressed their were put off at the last moment, Koirala refused to accept these elections in November. Sad about the Koirala separately only four days disappointment over the postpone- earlier being in June. demands in full or in part saying it postponement of the election, he is now before the polls were cancelled. All of ment of the polls, and asked key Koirala has suddenly acquired was too late. Congress party in Delhi, ostensibly for medical them came back satisfied that players to take the peace process the image of a political defaulter, sources said what bewildered treatment, but clearly to brief his elections would not be postponed. "In forward. The Carter Center, like many both at home and abroad, with them the most was that Koirala bosses, Shiv Shanker Menon and fact, based on Koirala's assurance, other international bodies, was in the his coalition partners asking him kept insisting that elections would Pranab Mukherjee as well. Mukherjee, reports were sent to the headquar- process of dispatching many election to step down. His biggest take place come what may. He only about a month ago, had stated that ters stating that the government was observers to Nepal for the November embarrassment proved to be the had repeatedly said publicly in the no excuse would be acceptable for not determined to hold the polls on time," 22 polls. Its Chief, Jimmy Carter was newspaper headline on October past that he would quit if he could holding the polls on November 22. a diplomat told newsfront. also expected in the capital sometimes 5 in which he was attributed to not hold the elections on time. On Mukherjee's advice, ambassa- While Delhi has officially suggested in November to supervise the final dors from China, United Kingdom that frequent postponement of the preparation of the polls. The path and its fruit - Lamdre Coup vs coup His Holiness Jigdal Dagchen Sakya, leader of the Khon lineage of the Sakya order of Tibetan Buddhism has Coterie asks PM to sack top security officials been bestowing Lamdre, the central Sakya teaching and the original ä nf correspondent sion, as chief of the army to insulate daughter, Sujata Koirala, who of late Sakya Khon lineage transmission to the top level from 'royalists'. has turned into a pro-republican Buddhist practioners at Tharlam In what appears like a desperate The armed police chief has not changing her earlier stance that this Monastery, Boudha, Kathmandu move to rule the country through loyal come into controversy currently as country will move towards disintegra- since 2nd Oct. His Holiness has army and police, Prime Minister G P its head, Basudev Oli, is the Home tion without monarchy in some form. bestowed the teaching only four times Koirala's loyal coterie is putting Minister Sitaula's cousin, and he Army headquarters refused to previously, and for the second time in pressure on him to sack some key has time and again said he is loyal comment on the issue except saying, Kathmandu after 16 years. security officials, including the chief of to 'democracy.' The latest develop- “there are lots of rumours floating First revealed to the Indian from whom he received the unbroken army and the chief of Nepal police. ment comes in the background of around. We know that certain anti- Buddhist master Virupa in the Khon lineage transmissions.